Opponents of a new road in Surrey that would cut through a popular park have failed to gather enough signatures to derail the project.
Campaigners with the group Save Surrey Parks needed to collect 30,000 signatures to force the proposal back to the drawing board.
By the Sept. 22 deadline, the group had managed just 11,000 according to a report from the City of Surrey.
At issue is the proposed 105 Avenue Connector, a two-lane road that would connect Whalley Boulevard and 150 Street, along the way cutting through school grounds, the front yards of some homes and Hawthorne Park.
Steve Pettigrew with Save Surrey Parks said the group won’t give up in its bid to keep construction out of the park.
“I’ve got over 150 people, they are committed to linking arms and chaining themselves together to trees if they decide to bring the tractors. They are going to meet a force of residents there.”
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A spokesperson for the city said it’s now up to council to decide on what will happen next.
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Pettigrew believes that with the 2018 civic election on the horizon, that could give opponents an edge.
“Surrey Council is in full-on election mode right now, we’re going to make it an election issue,” he said.
“And if they decide that they will go up against this much opposition, then they don’t deserve to hold office. And if they persist to push this road against the wishes of the community then the community will rise up against them.”
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Opponents argue that the park is designated as an ecologically sensitive area and would be irreparably damaged by construction.
The city is proposing to acquire five acres of land adjacent to the park to offset losses, expand the park’s footprint by one acre and add new trees and amenities.
It says with the anticipated 2018 start date for Surrey’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) construction, the road will be needed to ensure access to Guildford and Surrey City Centre.
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