GORHAM — The Gorham Board of Selectmen recently received a letter from the Bureau of Trails that provides a bit more information regarding the decision to withdraw plans to open the Presidential Rail Trail to all-terrain vehicle use.

“With no comments from the board of selectmen and conflicting input on thoughts in town it was determined to hold off on this project until a later date, as announced in the letter to the board this winter,” said a letter from Chris Gamache, of the Bureau of Trails.

The letter, received earlier this month, was a response to the board of selectmen’s inquiry about the project. The bureau held a public hearing in October to provide information and answer questions, and get a sense of the board’s feeling on the proposal, according to the letter. It added that the bureau hoped for a inquiry or comments from the board during the 30-day timeframe to collect comments following the hearing.

During the 30-day comment period the bureau received about 48 letters and emails regarding the project. The letter states that 34 were opposed to the project, and that five were from Gorham residents and 29 from residents of other communities. It adds letters of opposition were sent from the towns of Randolph and Jefferson.

The bureau received 12 letters and email in support of the project, nine of which were from Gorham residents and three from residents of other communities. The letter adds it also received a petition from 40 Gorham businesses supporting the trail expansion in the town.

In his letter, Gamache said the count might not be exact since some of the communication was sent to the bureau and other entities at the Division of Resources and Economic Development. He added most of the duplicates were caught.

The board took the letter under advisement and will wait for the state to take further action on the project. The board has not taken a position on the proposal at any time.

The board asked Interim Town Manager Bill Jackson to write a letter to the bureau asking what factored into its decision to not pursue expanding use of the Presidential Rail Trail to seasonal A.T.V. use. Aside from receiving the letter regarding the state’s decision, the board had little other information regarding the project.

The proposal was withdrawn this past winter, but the state may revisit the proposal at a later time. The proposed A.T.V. route would run along the existing rail trail along the east side of the Androscoggin River, crossing over the old rail trestle, crossing the Jimtown Road and winding up in Moose Brook State Park.

The expanded use would help connect Gorham to the newly created route that connects both the Jericho Mountain State Park trails to the Success trails.