More effort needed to preserve open space

I read with interest Beth Ward’s letter in the Sept. 22 issue of the News Tran-script. When they were running for election, their slate was based on open space.

They said they were going to stop the builders from taking over Manalapan. There is now more new building in Manal-apan then Manhattan.

They are proud that they have purchased 913 acres of open space. Millstone Township, which is basically the same size as Manalapan, has purchased 3,440 acres of open space.

They said that in the 15 years the Republicans ran the town they purchased no open space,.

True, but the open space referendum was not in effect when the Republicans were in charge of town. Pension Road, Union Hill Road, Taylors Mill Road, Gordons Corner, all were farms, or land that was up for sale recently, not old bought land.

I believe that this governing body literally has given the farm away. Why didn’t the Township Committee try and buy these tracts of land?

The building going on by Route 527 and Route 33 is really unbelievable. It looks like they are starting another new town.

Pretty soon we won’t have to worry about open space — there won’t be any.

Thomas Cerafice

Manalapan