Hydro poles go haywire in Bloor West Village

Back in the 1980s, Budgell Terrace in the city’s Bloor West Village neighbourhood was a quiet cul-desac bordered by a woodlot — an idyllic place to live.

And then the trees were bulldozed and dozens of swanky townhouses were erected, changing the nature of the street forever.

It’s been altered again, but this time by a utility company which has strung ugly wires, installed new wooden hydro poles, and left the old ones next to them. There are also wires that run from one pole to the other at about a metre off the ground in front of 17 Budgell. The mess has been there for about two years.

As it happens, the double pole scenario occurs over and over on a long stretch of Windermere Ave., as well as on other side streets in the south part of the village.

Why is there a need for two poles when, elsewhere in the city, one at each location does the job? And who decided stringing wires across front lawns like those on Budgell is acceptable?

There must be a better way to provide electricity in the city’s west end without making it an eyesore. Contractors also need to fix the sidewalk where the new hydro pole has been installed. It’s been two years and the job remains half-finished.

Several attempts by the homeowners to get satisfaction from Toronto Hydro and have the work completed have been unsuccessful. There was a tiny glimmer of hope last year when the homeowners were advised it would be fixed eventually.

STATUS: We’ve left a message with Toronto Hydro.

UPDATE: Thursday’s Fixer about trash on the south side of the Queensway garnered this response from the office of Councillor Sarah Doucette, Ward 13, and her constituency assistant Katherine Trimble: “I am writing to provide you with an update on the garbage situation along the Queensway,” she wrote in an email. “The councillor is aware of this problem and met on site with city staff on April17 to discuss when this stretch of the Queensway would be cleaned up. Staff informed her that the work would be done in approximately two weeks and she is pleased to let you know that the garbage is being picked up today (Thursday, May 2). The councillor is looking forward to a much cleaner south end of the ward.”

So is everyone else.

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