Would you believe that finally a couple of guys rolled up this morning? It turns out they're from some outfit called Freedom Power Lines who are subcontracted by EDF for cable replacements. They'd only been given the vaguest idea about "something" needing to be done at this pole (that really inspires confidence, doesn't it?).
Anyhow, after deliberating and paying a visit to the sub-station on the next block to assess, they've gone away to put in an order to run a completely new underground feeder from the sub to the pole, so it looks as though this job might be completed -- At last!
