Hydro-Québec's tree-chopping plans upset Montreal West residents
Montreal West residents are hoping the province's hydroelectric utility will reconsider chopping down dozens of trees in the neighbourhood after a public meeting on Monday.
Hydro-Québec advised residents on Roxton Crescent and Radcliffe Road in a letter last month that it has plans to pre-emptively control the vegetation deemed too close — or in danger of becoming too close — to power lines in the area.
For the past 50 years, neighbours in a part of Montreal West that stretches along the railroad tracks have planted all sorts of greenery, transforming previously dismal and industrial-looking land into a blossoming garden.
However, it's technically Hydro-Québec's land, and the company wants to remove the trees to prevent against electric arcing and fires.
Sentimental attachment
The news comes much to the dismay of people like Louise Chenevert.
"To them, it's just a land mass. To us, they're individuals, they're part of our lives. People here have planted trees," Chenevert said.
She doesn't buy Hydro's excuse of preventing fires — rather, she said, she thinks the utility just doesn't want to bother trimming the trees in the future.
Nick Alla said in the 45 years he's lived in the area, he hasn't once heard about the trees being a problem.
His two sons planted white pines over 40 years ago, and now his grandchildren are hoping to plant their own.
"When they hear that trees are going to be cut, of course the children immediately want to repair the damage by planting more," he said.
Montreal West Mayor Beny Masella said he wants the company to make a sincere effort to find a compromise at Monday's public meeting.
"If they're just coming there, with their minds made up... that this is a fait accompli, and just going through this to make everybody happy, then I'm not going to appreciate that response either," Masella said.
Hydro-Québec also plans to cut down trees in Côte St-Luc. The company will meet residents there on Wednesday.
