The destiny of the Grand Puy station opened in 1959 is being written this Sunday with a referendum initiated by the municipality of Seyne. Declining attendance, facing global warming, located between 1300 and 1850m above sea level, Grand Puy is in difficulty. In winter, beginners will find what they are looking for there and in summer, downhill bike enthusiasts will discover a demanding and confidential mountain bike spot. But maintaining these activities has a cost for the municipality since the area is still managed under municipal management. In 2023, we are talking about €350,000 taken from the general budget to fuel the operation of Grand Puy. The resort comes alive in winter around a rental company, a restaurant, a ski school, a gîte. On the nearby outskirts there are also two holiday centers and a holiday village.
Tension reigns
Elected officials commissioned a study which lasted several months. Following which the vast majority of these elected officials propose the closure of the station on November 1, the dismantling of the ski lifts and their resale. A self-financing envelope of €150,000 would be allocated to diversify the site. It is up to Seynois to accept or not this proposal. Tensions have escalated in recent weeks. If the majority and their supporters hope to clean up the municipal budget, opponents of the closure see it as the end of tourist activity in the municipality and particularly regret the desire to separate from the chairlift in order to diversify. The question of the participation of second homes was also burning. Many of these occasional residents consider that they must participate in the referendum, but to do so they must register on the electoral lists of Seyne. At the end of the day this Sunday the verdict will fall, the victory of “yes” means the closure of the station, the “no” its maintenance.
