The elected officials of Nîmes metropolis have approved the creation of a new economic activity zone of 18 hectares. It is located next to the future second prison of Nîmes.
Creating new activity zones for intermunicipalities, responsible for economic development, is a real headache. Laws protecting biodiversity and the environment have put a stop to the urbanization of land, although it creates jobs. It is difficult to make these two societal imperatives coexist. However, in Nîmes, the announcement of the creation of a second prison on the former Oc’Via base allowed the president of the Agglomeration, Franck Proust, to create an activity zone.
After many exchanges, sometimes oppositions, with state services, the contours of the latter, called Nîmes sud, are less vague. On Monday, in community council, elected officials approved its creation. “ A total of 18 hectares were released for economic land », explained Jean-Christophe Grégoire, vice-president responsible for the development of business zones at the Agglo. President of the TPNA association (All for Nîmes and its agglomeration) – which had supported the candidacy of Jean-Paul Boré for the municipal elections – their activists were attached to the emergence of a freight platform, thus taking advantage of the railway connecting Saint-Césaire to Grau-du-Roi.
The prison should “ position yourself in the center of the land on 20 hectares “. Finally, in the north, no less than 40 hectares have been reserved for the little bustard, “ a poultry that has taken the lion’s share », quips Jean-Christophe Grégoire. Nevertheless, “ this zone will allow the creation of 300 jobs. It is now necessary to purchase the plots and make some adjustments to the local town planning plans. “. His announcement was taken up by Franck Proust: “ Instead, we are told 500 to 600 jobs for economic development and 400 to 500 jobs for the prison “. Who’s telling the truth?
According to the president, the Agglomeration is in contact with “ a company already interested in industrial logistics “. The elected PS opposition member of the Unified Left group, Corinne Giacometti, asked if, given the arrival of a new Government, but also the French budgetary situation, the construction of the prison would materialize. . “ I don’t see why it wouldn’t be done… We had another meeting last week with the prison administration services. », replied Franck Proust. Unlike St. Thomas, the president prefers to believe what he hears… Less what he sees.
