I’ve lived in Surrey since 1989, and I’ve seen lots of changes over the years. Our population has increased by 25 per cent over the past 10 years alone – from 394,000 to 501,000, and we have to make room and homes for all those new residents.
A drive that used to take 10 minutes now takes 30. What were once fields of grass, bushes and trees are now shopping centres, car dealerships, homes and parking lots.
My friends just received a notice from the Surrey Planning and Development Department announcing that much of the green space near their home is slated to be developed into housing. The trees will be torn down (and likely burned). The grassy fields will be covered with asphalt and houses. I don’t know what will happen to the creek that runs through it, but I do know that it won’t be as clean as it has been, and the salmon that spawn there every winter will probably disappear forever.
Surrey used to call itself “The City of Parks.” Yeah, industrial parks.
Its slogan is now “The Future Lives Here,” and it appears that there are no trees in the future.
Jerry Steinberg, Surrey
