Opponents of the Gateway project say it's the reason why Surrey Council is considering putting a road through Bear Creek Park -- and why it shouldn't.
Donna Passmore, speaking for the Gateway 40 Citizens Network, cites a message from Surrey councillor Barinder Rasode, posted on the Save Bear Creek Park Facebook site by Noella Moniz. Rasode wrote:
I do believe [that] doing nothing about 88th and King George is not an option - but after much careful contemplation I have decided that tomorrow night, when the corporate report is once more brought before council, I will move that further consideration be given, particularly on one significant issue which I feel has not been sufficiently considered, the impact of the South Perimeter Road on traffic volumes on 88th Avenue.
In the motion I will instruct staff to hire an independent consultant that will work with staff and the community on a full public consultation, taking into consideration the sizable impact of the South Perimeter Road on this route.
In a news release also posted on the Stop Gateway blog, Passmore said this was the opposite of what the Campbell government had promised Surrey residents:
"Citizens were promised that the twinning of Highway 1 and the construction of the South Fraser Perimeter Road, at an upfront cost of more than $5 billion to taxpayers, and thousands of acres of prime farmland and our most sensitive wildlife habitat, was justified because it would take traffic off the streets of Surrey.
"Now that the project has been railroaded through, the truth is even worse than we envisioned. Now the City of Surrey is using the additional traffic volume anticipated from the South Fraser Perimeter Road, to justify putting a road through Bear Creek Park, one of the most popular parks in the Lower Mainland."
The release also says that putting a road through Bear Creek Park "will harm significant salmon habitat and wildlife habitat, elevate local and atmospheric pollutants, diminish property values and quality of life for area residents."
Crawford Kilian is a contributing editor of The Tyee.
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Dan the socialist
2 years ago
Surrey Council voted down
Surrey Council voted down the road through Bear Creek park 6-3 Thankfully.
http://www.news1130.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20091006_004853_9528
gordon
2 years ago
Knuckle Dragging Neanderthal Marvin Hunt
Love this analogy so much I'm gonna write it agin.
Knuckle Dragging Neanderthal Marvin Hunt
Pave-in Marvin was incinerated on the hotplate of public opinion in the steamy kitchen of council chambers as the hungry throngs pressed deep against the walls straining to hear the truth of every word emanating from each councilors lips throughout the long deliberations.
It tasted delicious, victory was fed upon with ravenous delirium as raised hands signaled they had had their fill, desiring the finer fruits of life.
offended
2 years ago
Time for council
to be scared of the voters; not the other way around.
I moved out of Surrey a few years ago because of the rampant and poorly planned developments.
Wall to wall housing with no amenities or transit options does not make for a good community.
Council has created a community of drivers and trying to accomodate the community that they've created creates the proposed debacle that thankfully did not go through.
Latimer Pit is a perfect example of a destruction of land in order to salve the desires of developers, with no regard for habitat.
Shameful.
donnapassmore
2 years ago
Congratulations Bear Creek Campaigners
I've been up to my eyeballs in Gateway and farmland issues and wasn't able to wade in as I would like to... but it was so much fun watching all of you.
If I were Marvin Hunt, I would be verrrry nervous. He has GOT TO GO. He is an environmental dinosaur and the longer he stays on council the further the City of Surrey slides backwards.
Anyway - fabulous work all of you! Get some rest and then back at it. Put those final nails into the coffin of unsustainable transportation, unhealthy neighbourhoods!