WOODSTOCK – Selectmen on Tuesday agreed to consider opening the Lake Road to snowmobiles and four wheelers from Jan. 1 to the end of March.
“Opening Lake Road to the people for recreation during the ice fishing season would make the town more user-friendly for winter sports,” Fire Chief Geff Inman said, “and it would also make the area around the town landing more accessible for emergency vehicles as well.”
Selectmen said it would definitely be a good to promote winter activities that could also help local stores during the winter.
Town Manager Vern Maxfield said, however, that there would have to be a public hearing to see if residents would approve. It was decided to schedule a hearing soon.
Lake Road is a dead end – from Route 26 to Lake Christopher – that leads to the town’s main boat landing.
Inman also reported that a fundraising campaign to buy an ice rescue sled is going well after only a week.
“We’re off to a good start receiving $1,000 so far, and we are seeing a lot of interest in the need for purchasing an ice rescue sled. To help with the campaign we are sending letters to the citizens asking for donations,” he said.
“The cost runs between $5,000 and $6,000, and we feel we can raise the money we need without going through the regular town budget,” the chief said.
The department believes the sled is needed because the area has several large bodies of water, and only Oxford and Andover have them.
Inman said a sign and a miniature fireman’s boot will be placed in businesses and the town office to collect donations.
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