Natural Gas Service For Residents

To the Editor:
 
Dayton Street and the surrounding neighborhood, including an area once called Westover Farms, have more than 150 households. At the end of Dayton Street there is a natural gas pipeline which many of the residents have shown interest in extending to their homes.  Phone calls and letters sent to the gas company asking for service to be provided went unanswered. After a period of time of no response, an engineer from the company called and we were told that there is no service available unless homeowners paid up to $10,000 each.

 
I petitioned neighbors and discussed the issue with our State Representative Ted Speliotis. He offered to help by personally bringing the request to the gas company. Some local residents met with Mr. Speliotis at the Danvers Town Hall a month ago. Now we are informally told by the gas company that the cost could be between $3,500 and $4,000 each. Given these difficult economic times, this cost is still prohibitive for some.  We remain hopeful that some kind of agreement can be worked out.  If the company will extend natural gas services to roads in the area, perhaps cost and financing plans can be negotiated.

William Warwick
Dayton St., Danvers