VIDEO. “We were fooled…” a village in Gers opposes an agrivoltaic park project set up on the sly

Mirannes, Aubiet, Barcelonne-du-Gers… Solar and agrivoltaic park projects are springing up like flowers in the four corners of the department. At the beginning of April, a new one was added to the list. Nestled in the west of the Gers, in the town of Beaumarchés, hidden in the middle of valleys covered with woods, meadows and… around ten houses. However, it is in this last parameter that the problem lies, as is often the case.

Because the project, carried out by the Corsica Sole company, a priori with an area of ​​10 hectares, reached the ears of the inhabitants by force of circumstances. “Would you be for or against an agrivoltaic park project? » The question was asked to Vincent Marty, who saw the project leader (strongly encouraged by the town hall) arrive on his doorstep. The horse breeder, who expressed his disagreement, was stunned.

With this step, he alerts the neighborhood. The news has the effect of a bomb. The first questions arise. Why did you choose this land and not another? Why were local residents not consulted sooner?

Nicolas Duviau, whose property is located about fifty meters from the land at the heart of the debates, first goes to the town hall to try to obtain the beginnings of an explanation. “The municipality did not see fit to tell the population, because the owner (who did not respond to requests from “La Dépêche”) had to do so,” exasperates the father of the family.

Nicolas then rushes to contact him. “His alibi is to say that these are lands that are not too productive. Lack of pot for him, the farmer who was there before us confirmed that he had always grown crops on it,” criticizes the fifty-year-old.

“It was hidden from us”

But the question that bothers local residents the most is: when did the project begin? “In April 2023, Corsica Sole asked the municipality for an opinion on the project, to attach it to the building permit. Which was filed last September. So it’s an antecedent to that,” Vincent deduces. “The environmental study lasts a whole year,” adds his neighbor. Following his statements, the agrivoltaic park project would therefore date back, at least, to 2022.

Denouncing a project carried out behind their backs – “we were fooled” Vincent exclaims – the local residents do not intend to let this happen. Only one objective for them, to make it fall into the water. They first wanted to create an association to lead the revolt. There too, what was their amazement when they discovered that it was too late… “For the association to be valid, it must be formed one year before the permit is submitted,” explains Nicolas.

His neighbor Vincent draws conclusions: “There was an omerta. This was deliberately hidden from us. » Instead, a collective was founded. Visual pollution, possible glare effect, real estate devaluation, impact on the activity of neighboring lodges (see box below)… The reasons for the opposition are multiple.

“We are not going to set fire to the village”

What about the point of view of the mayor, Gérard Castet? In 2023, the municipality had “given a favorable opinion in principle while awaiting a final project. “. Today, aware of the waves caused by the revelation of the project, the councilor is giving another speech. “If everyone is unfavorable, we are not going to set fire to the village over a photovoltaic story,” announces Gérard Castet.

The mayor also wishes to point out that the opinion of the municipality will not be decisive. “It’s the prefect who decides. » He adds: “The prefect told us that this type of project was carried out on uneven terrain, wasteland… Otherwise, agreements would be difficult to obtain. In my opinion, this is arable land. »

Words that should reassure opponents. But that won’t make them lower their guard. If the building permit is validated, a public inquiry will be launched. “A month to fight,” anticipates Nicolas. But the final word will come from the Prefecture. Until then, the talks promise to be lively. Starting at a public meeting announced between the end of May and the beginning of June.

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Residents are already paying the price

The announcement of the project: a heartbreak for Vincent Marty. “I have the worst eyesight,” he feels sorry for himself… 7 years ago, he left a small village in Haute-Savoie to escape the galloping urbanization that was taking place before his eyes. “As the Swiss have significant purchasing power, they come to build in France,” explains the father.

After prospecting throughout the South-West, the horse breeder finally fell in love with the Gers, its valleys and its landscapes which have not, or very little, been shaped by the hand of man .

“A drop in attendance”

A preserved, idyllic natural setting, which he introduces to tourists, but also to Gers residents wishing to recharge their batteries, by coming to stay in his gîte.

But for how much longer? Because this activity, complementary to that of horse breeding, could well be undermined by the agrivoltaic park, if it were to see the light of day. In any case, this is what the Haut-Savoyard fears: “From the moment there are signs, we will have a drop in attendance at the gîte. »

“We’re going to wait for all this to end”

Nicolas Duviau has already experienced the harmful indirect effects of the project, even though no ground has been broken. With his wife, the father had decided to put his house up for sale. Upon learning of the existence of the project, in front of his door, he withdrew his property from the market.

“If it had sold, we would not have been able to tell the buyers that a project was underway and we would have been at fault,” he confides. A commendable honesty when his home, if the project goes through to completion, should see its price drop…

“We’re going to wait for all this to end,” says the father, before, perhaps, changing scenery.