South Surrey senior Pat Hahn considers himself a fan of the snow.

But not, he said, when City of Surrey snowplows dump icy banks of it on freshly-shoveled sidewalks.

Hahn and neighbours in the 14400-block of 34 Avenue consider themselves diligent about following the city bylaw that requires them to keep the sidewalks clear after a fresh snowfall.

But that may be over, he said, after their experiences Thursday morning, following the overnight snow-dump. And he鈥檚 betting his neighbourhood isn鈥檛 the only one with a beef against city snowplow drivers.

Hahn told Peace Arch News Thursday afternoon he was up at at 5 a.m that day 鈥� along with other neighbours 鈥� to clear the sidewalk of snow.

鈥淚鈥檓 in my early 70s and the guy two doors down from me is in his late 70s,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e and some of the other neighbours had the sidewalks all clear by 7 a.m.鈥�

But in the time it took to go inside and get a cup of coffee, he said, a city snowplow had barrelled down the street, plunking snow from the middle of the road onto the sidewalks.

鈥淎 neighbour took video of it,鈥� he said, adding that it has since been confirmed that it wasn鈥檛 a contractor, but a city snowplow that was responsible.

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鈥淚鈥檝e always liked the snow,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 get out in it as much as I can 鈥� but I don鈥檛 like it when two hours of back-breaking work is obliterated just like that. The city wants us to keep the sidewalks clear, but then they do this.

鈥淚鈥檝e cleared the path leading to our door and salted it so no one falls over. But, I鈥檓 sorry, I鈥檓 not clearing the sidewalk again.鈥�

Hahn said he鈥檚 had reason to call the city鈥檚 road maintenance department three times before, following heavy snowfalls, to complain about the same thing.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 happen in light snowfalls, but only when there鈥檚 a significant snowfall,鈥� he said. He added that he believes that the angle of the snowplow blades needs to be adjusted to avoid repetition of the problem.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think the drivers are doing it deliberately 鈥� it鈥檚 a matter of time,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e only given so much time to get the streets clear.

鈥淭he people at the city, when you phone, are always very sincere. They say, 鈥榃e鈥檒l make sure it doesn鈥檛 happen again鈥� - but I don鈥檛 think the message is getting through to the top people.鈥�

PAN has reached out to the City of Surrey for comment.

alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
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