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‘It’s very traumatizing,’ says Surrey resident as city cuts last trees for Hawthorne Park road

Janet Brown/Global News

An area equal to about four city blocks has been cleared of trees over the last few days at Hawthorne Park to make way for a new road that will link Guildford and Surrey Central.

“It’s a clearcut right through the forest there and there’s nothing left, not even the small bushes. A monster machine is out there now just picking things up,” said Steve Pettigrew, one of the main opponents of the road.

Janet Brown/Global News

Work at the park began on Jan. 9, after city council voted in favour of the controversial road.

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“So many people consider this park as a part of their family, they’ve grown up there, people have been buried in there, there have been weddings here. It’s just a real connected part of our lives,” said Pettigrew.

Last week protesters blocked equipment and chained themselves to trees to halt construction, but crews were back in the next day.

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According to the city, about 200 trees were going to be cut to make way for the new road, although opponents argued the number was closer to 2,000.

WATCH: Surrey residents rally against proposed road through Hawthorne Park

Click to play video: 'Surrey residents rally against proposed road through Hawthorne Park'
Surrey residents rally against proposed road through Hawthorne Park

The city said the three-kilometre road will help ease congestion on 104 Avenue once the new light rail transit (LRT) project gets underway.

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“I just have to accept that the road is, or the trees are coming down because up until now I fully haven’t believed it,” Pettigrew said. “And now that I’m looking out there, there are only a couple of trees left, it’s very traumatizing.”

The new road will also cut through a school’s playground that will have to be relocated. A few acres of green space will also be added along with new trees.

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