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Surrey needs a tree relocation program

The park area was levelled in about a week, with one tree standing, which was eventually cut as well.

I have been reading all of the letters written by people who have concerns over the misuse or ignorance of the city bylaws.

Well here is one for you.

I moved to the Clayton Heights area in 2007. We were building a house right across from a proposed developing park, between 66 and 67 Avenues and from 193 to 193A Streets. I had asked the city time after time “are you going to keep all the trees, are some going to be cut?”

I never could get a straight answer from anyone, until after the houses that were built around the park, and things started to happen. After many months of asking, the city finally said the trees in the park will be selectively cut, and those that are sick or diseased will be cut as well.

In that area there were a lot of smaller evergreens, deciduous trees, and a few nesting owls. But a beautiful park.

To make a long story short, in came the chipper trucks and all the land-clearing personnel. The park area was levelled in about a week, with one tree standing, which was eventually cut as well.

Wow,  what a disaster. I asked the city at a forum that they had to get ideas for the park and they said it was in our best interest to cut all of the trees down and start fresh.

But I did find out later that Surrey had given the order to cut down only the selected trees and not the entire park area. But somehow the developer misunderstood, or had selective hearing.

I never found out what did happen. Does Surrey not have a tree relocation program? I am saying when Surrey develops certain areas, can some trees be saved and relocated somewhere else, thus saving the taxpayer a lot of money?

 

Mark Lincoln, Surrey