The old village of Weston, incorporated in 1881, has fallen on hard times since its absorption into the City of Toronto, but the area is still a strong community bolstered by its decades of heritage, and today the community spoke out against the Pearson-Union rail link plans.

The Toronto Star article is here (registration may be required), but to sum up, the community is concerned at the significant increase in the number of trains, the fact that three level crossings may be eliminated (cutting residents off from businesses on Weston Road), and the damage that bridge construction could do to the Humber Valley park. The project offers little benefit to Weston residents; even Weston GO station may be altered under this proposal, to make it less accessible to residents.

This may be the first you have heard of the Pearson-Union rail link proposal in the past few years, but SNC Lavalin has been quietly pushing through the project, which it hopes to open in 2008. Residents have complained about confusion surrounding the sudden switching of locations of previous meetings on this project.

Local resident Mary Louise Ashbourne is organizing opposition and is encouraging interested people from Weston to attend upcoming local city hearings on the project.

• Tuesday, March 7, 6-9 p.m. at the Trinity Community Recreation Centre, 155 Crawford St.
• Wednesday, March 8, 6:30-9 p.m. at the Bethel Apostolic Church, 1831 Weston Rd.
• Thursday, 6-9 p.m. at the Malton Community Centre, 3540 Morning Star Dr., Mississauga.