The stop LGV 47 collective set up in the heart of Casteljaloux where many associations and elected officials joined it in a festive atmosphere for the entire weekend. They denounce the high-speed line project linking Bordeaux to Toulouse and Dax. They will cross southern Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne, stopping in numerous villages.
Stop LGV, the Confédération Paysanne, Attac, but also environmental associations, all came together to counter the LGV project. Among them, many elected officials. Raymond Girardi is president of the community of communes of Coteaux et Landes de Gascogne. He has been fighting against this LGV project for almost twenty years.
We are optimistic, this project is so pharaonic, useless and expensive that we are optimistic that we will win our case in the end.
Raymond Girardipresident of the community of communes of Coteaux and Landes de Gascogne
A statement that says a lot about the determination of the opponents of this LGV. Last year, there were 500 of them marching through the streets of Bordeaux. For several years, demonstrations have multiplied. Proof that mobilization is not weakening. Last May, they claimed to have put up signs in more than 700 municipalities in Lot-et-Garonne and Gironde. Today in Casteljaloux, there are 200 who have made the trip. But in the meantime, the project is moving forward. “The developments north of Toulouse have started,” declared prefect Etienne Guillot in March. South of Bordeaux work should be launched before the end of the year.
“Today is another step in the fight that we have been waging for almost 20 years.” continues Raymond Girardi. “This line has no reason to exist. We are not opposed to the development of LGV if we have to create north-south axes, Paris-Berlin, Paris-Madrid or other. But a transversal which competes with an already existing line in two electrified tracks, there, the demonstration is made today that throwing 15 billion (20 billion, we do not know how much exactly) in this project has no reason to exist.
MAP – Casteljaloux (47)
86% of people in favor of LGV according to a survey
A survey published this Friday, May 24, certainly fueled the debates today in Lot-et-Garonne. Alain Rousset has in fact revealed the results of an opinion study commissioned by the SNCF. It was carried out among 2,000 people living in the former Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées regions, both affected by the future line.
Alain Rousset revealed the results of a survey on the LGV.
•
© Opinion study commissioned by SNCF
According to this survey, 86% of those questioned are in favor of the LGV. A figure which rises to 91% in Haute-Garonne. It remains high in Gironde with 83% favorable opinion. “Citizen engagement is for the project”, declared Alain Rousset, president of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region. “Europe is keen on it because it is a connection between Portugal, Spain and Northern Europe through Aquitaine. All environmental precautions must be taken.”
But you know that the impact of a railway on biodiversity is much less than a motorway.
Alain Roussetpresident of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region
For Christine Séguinot, regional environmental advisor, the results of this survey must be put into perspective due to the lack of information transmitted to those questioned. “Have we addressed the problem of the destruction of 4,800 hectares of biodiversity zone?” asks the chosen one. “Have we discussed the fact that we are only going to gain a few minutes, for example, in the sector between Bordeaux and Dax? Have we given people all the elements to become aware and express an opinion? Have they been reminded that they pay taxes for homeowners? That tourist taxes will increase this summer? “
The question of financing is at the heart of the opposition between the “for” and the “anti”. The prefect spoke of “around a hundred million euros paid by Europe since the launch of the project.” A point visibly firmly contested by Raymon Girardi. “We are told that there will be 20% of European funds, there is zero. he says. “Since the European Union only intervenes on the main routes from country to country. So the financing today is not complete.”
Throughout the weekend, opponents of the LGV project will demonstrate their anger from southern Gironde to Lot-et-Garonne.
•
© FTV
The elected official points out the taxation put in place in the territories crossed by the LGV project. “It’s a scandal in terms of financing,” he rages. “Because they put us there, when we will have no interest (to this LGV, editor’s note). There is a tax on built land that we started paying last year and which is unacceptable. And an additional tax of 34% on the tourist tax to help finance this project which everyone knows there is no money for investment and implementation. Furthermore, everyone knows that it will be ultra-deficit.”
Which means that it is, in operation, a line which will be under perfusion for the century to come.
Raymond Girardipresident of the community of communes of Coteaux and Landes de Gascogne
“The only fights we won’t win are the ones we don’t fight.”
While the Spaniards are worried about the delays and deplore a “double talk” on the French side, the opponents of the LGV want to believe that they can reverse the trend and stop the project. “Land purchases have already started, but we will cite many projects, won’t we, where we blocked the land or we started to buy the land which became public property and then nothing is done about it? term”, concludes Alain Girardi. “The fights we fight, we can win. The only fights we will not win are the ones we do not fight.” At the end of the afternoon, the convoy will hit the road again to reach Pompogne.
