Town won't play Milton's road name game

Halton Hills council has rejected a Milton proposal to rename three roads shared between the two towns. Milton wants to rename Fifth Line South, Fowles Rd. (after a Milton veteran) and Sixth Line, Drumquin Rd. (after a former settlement). The roads end in Halton Hills territory at Steeles Ave. Milton also wants Halton Hills to rename Five Sideroad, Campbellville Rd., between Dublin Line and Tremaine Rd. This road is the border between the municipalities and residents living on the south side have a Campbellville Rd. address and those living on the north side have a Five Sideroad address. Milton wants to make the changes this summer. But Ward 2 Councillor Joan Robson called it an identity and cultural issue, wondering how long it will be before Brampton tries to rename Halton Hills roads. "I don't think they (residents) would like the council and mayor of another town making a decision that affects all of us," she said. "It's a small area... but it could be the thin edge of the wedge." Mayor Rick Bonnette said there is a cost to renaming addresses and Halton Hills doesn't need to become involved at this time. But Councillor Moya Johnson pointed out it would only affect small portions of Fifth and Sixth Lines, south of Steeles Ave and the addresses of four Halton Hills businesses and the Town's own Hornby Park. "It seems confusing if the road changes half way through when it's just going to end at Steeles," the Ward 3 Councillor said. Wards 3&4 Regional Councillor Jane Fogal suggested that the businesses, including Landscape Ontario and the new TransCanada Energy power plant be contacted for their opinion before a final decision is made. Councillors agreed to not support the Milton initiative at this time, but requested staff contact the affected businesses to inform them about Milton's public meetings (April 10 and April 11) on the issue, and then report to back to council on the outcome. Councillors also asked that an alternative name to Drumquin Rd. be considered. "I find it offensive that Drumquin Rd. is named after a small community within Milton, and I likewise propose that this become Speyside Way or Hornby Ave.," said Ward 2 Councillor Bryan Lewis. "I think we have as much right to drive it in the other direction."