To the Editor:  On behalf of the citizens of Milford and beyond, who love our homes, farms, rural lifestyle and precious river systems, this is to address a letter to the editor by Mr. Pat Mills concerning the inland terminal.

     Mr. Mills is manager of National gypsum – the mine located in HRM directly across the river from the proposed site.   With all due respect, Mr. Mills, we find your definition of the word “rural” in stark contrast with that of Funk and Wagnall’s and Webster’s dictionaries.

     The area designated for this container terminal is indeed rural despite the fact certain areas nearby have become suburbanized.  It is beyond our comprehension that residential development will continue into what Mr. Mills refers to as the “lower end of Milford” whether or not the port is built.  Imagine people scrambling to build homes next to a huge, noisy, glaring industrial site.  Mr. Mills has faith in the Nova Scotia Department of Environment.

      He believes that strict controls would be put in place to prevent damage to wetland habitat and the river.  In an ideal world, this should be true.  Most certainly Mr. Mills is correct in saying that risks, benefits, facts and costs must be weighed carefully as well as human impact.  Someone once wrote:  “In times like these, man only sees the green of dollars and not of trees.”

     Mr. Versteeg has apologized for not having notified nearly enough of the affected land owners prior to the public announcement.  Most were informed by neighbours.          Mr. Mills was under the impression that Mr. Versteeg had contacted them.  This is not the first misunderstanding on this issue and will undoubtedly not be the last.

     We agree with Mr. Mills that an elected official should be an open-minded critical thinker, with the best interests of the community at heart.  He or she must carefully consider not just both sides of an issue, but all sides.

This port issue is multi-dimensional to say the least and involves not only this community, but the entire Shubenacadie River System, including a large part of East Hants and Colchester and HRM as well.

     We therefore hope and pray that our officials are guided by their conscience because what might be destroyed could be the very things we live for – things that cannot be bought or sold.                                   Liz Schwartz, Milford Station