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Ditch this city’s image

Surrey doesn’t look good – a fact that needs to change.

Although I fully support the major issues being discussed by hopeful politicians in Surrey such as crime, transportation, etc., I believe other important problems have never been mentioned, such a city beautification, which would go a long way to increasing how the city is viewed by others.

There are far too many streets in Surrey that look terrible as one drives around, like old narrow roads with no curbs and those dirty ditches everywhere. If the city would get rid of the unsightly ditches and install those easily made curbs from forms, it would be much easier for residents to mow lawns right to the curb and grow more shrubs to spruce everything up. It would also stop so many pigs from throwing fast food wrappers in the ditches as though they are garbage cans.

When I bought my home in 1981, I phoned the city to inquire about the ditch in front of my home on 103A Avenue. They told me the city was slowly filling in all the ditches but it would be about 10 years before they are all done. Well, here it is 33 years later and I am still waiting. They would fill mine in and charge me around $5,000 for it. What nonsense. All it takes is a layer of gravel, then put down the water drain pipe, and fill the rest with dirt – about a four-hour job.

So how about it all you mayor and council hopefuls. Will any of you promise to get rid of the ditches? Let’s hear your views.

 

Derek Coughtrey, Surrey