Protest can’t stop tree clearing at Surrey park

The sight of workers with chainsaws and heavy equipment removing trees has not deterred protesters opposed to the construction of a road through a Surrey park.

On Thursday, for the third day this week, they stood outside the construction fencing at Hawthorne Park with the hope of convincing the city to stop work on the 105 Avenue Connector, which will link Whalley Boulevard to 150th Street.

“It’s very disheartening, of course,” said Eileen Lindner. “I just hope other people wake up regarding what the city do and how they do it.”

The two-lane road, which has been part of the city’s official community plan since 1986, is being built as part of the advance work for a light-rail line that will run up 104th Avenue.

A citizen group called Save Hawthorne Park tried to stop the project, but did not collect enough signatures for its petition. It has since organized protests.

Work was supposed to begin on Monday, but was delayed while resident Roslyn Cassels argued in B.C. Supreme Court that the road project should be halted because an endangered shrew could be present in the park. A judge dismissed the case.

On Tuesday, workers fired up chainsaws and began cutting down trees on a 3.5-acre swath of the park between 140th and 142nd streets. Construction stopped on Wednesday after a protester blocked machinery.