Cloverdale parents react, say they will continue to work for new sheets of ice at the Cloverdale Sport & Ice Complex

The budget aims to save Surrey a total of 135-million dollars over the next five years

SURREY (NEWS 1130) – Outrage is growing after Surrey’s new draft budget plans to push back a number of capital projects in the city. Parents in Cloverdale are particularly worried the budget would affect long-awaited improvements at an ice rink in Cloverdale.

Mike Bola, President of the Cloverdale Community Association, says because of the budget, the future of the Cloverdale Sport & Ice Complex is now up in the air. The plan is to cut back on several capital projects, and is something Bola says is disappointing especially for parents of young children.

I’m here at Surrey City Council tonight, the first one since Mayor Doug McCallum revealed a so-called city debt of 514-million dollars. Lots on the agenda tonight, tons of rezoning applications and council set to vote on motion to combine five committees into one. @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/jcLUiAGain — Taran Parmar (@Tarankparmar) December 4, 2018

“Community members come to me, call me, email me, asking me about this and tell me they’re hearing about this cancellation. This draft plan has pretty much confirmed all that.”

He and other parents have been waiting years for new sheets of ice to be fitted into the arena. Bola says the city should be looking at the best ways to spend funding and questions Mayor Doug McCallum’s many expensive promises.

“Just today, the mayor was talking about buying new sweepers to clean the road. I’m hoping those sweepers will also clean up the crime and the shootings that are happening here too. It’s an inappropriate way to spend money when we need it for other types of facilities, which children can use.”

Council just wrapped, Mayor McCallum isn’t taking questions tonight. I did ask his thoughts on the city’s draft budget which pushes back some capital projects including an ice rink in Cloverdale. He says he hasn’t gotten a chance to fully look over the report yet. @NEWS1130 — Taran Parmar (@Tarankparmar) December 4, 2018

He and other community members are now writing letters to council, protesting the cuts to their rink.

“We are going to continue to push for this arena, we will not let this one go. It’s a matter of health and safety for the children, and parents who take children to hockey practices and games.”

Mayor and council will meet next Tuesday to go over the budget at the city’s finance meeting.This comes after a troubling announcement from Mayor Doug McCallum last week, who claimed the city was carrying a $514-million debt load. Currently, that debt load is closer to $316 million and stems from projects approved by the previous council.