An agricultural project that divides the commune
HAS Vicq-sur-Breuilha town of around 1,400 inhabitants in Haute-Vienne, the project of industrial pigsty carried by Gaec Berland provokes an outcry. Planned to house 1,000 pigs on an area of 1,000 m², the operation worries local residents for its potential impact on the environment, animal welfare and local quality of life. In response, a collective of residents was formeddenouncing risks of pollution, nuisance and impact on animal welfare, as explained to us Patrick Piquetresident of Brégéras, place where the project to establish this industrial pigsty is located:
“We settled in the countryside with farmers who welcomed us, farmers who do a noble and nourishing job for the population and today they want to set up an industrial and It goes against our valuesour principles and in addition these industries in terms of animal welfare, it's something horrible since for 1000 m² there will be 1000 pigs, a little less than a square meter per pig, that's something that is imaginable today (…) it represents nuisances, olfactory risks, there is noisethe rotation of trucks, finally there are a large number of things, such as withdrawal from the municipality's water resources which is already a little critical given the population of the municipality and our resources. So, there you have it, we have questions and we're waiting for answers.”
Pollution and water consumption
Class ICPE (Installation Classified for Environmental Protection), the project could lead to water and soil pollution, particularly through animal slurrywhich would be spread on neighboring lands. Residents fear a groundwater contaminationbut also local rivers, which would affect biodiversity. In addition, the collective denounces excessive water consumption for this type of intensive exploitation, while the municipality already suffers from water restrictions during periods of drought.
Animal welfare and real estate devaluation in question
Residents also point out the lack of respect for animal welfare, fearing that the 1,000 pigs, confined without access to the outside, are living in conditions deemed unacceptable. This project, according to them, also risks depreciating the value of real estate in the hamlets concerned, such as Brégéras, where the houses would have a direct view of the future installation.
“This type of intensive breeding will distort our village,” worries Patrick Piquet.
Mobilization and petition against the pigsty
To make their voices heard, opponents launched an online petition mid-October, which has already collected more than 30,000 signatures. This national support underlines an important mobilization against industrial breeding. The collective asks a public inquiryan optional procedure for a breeding of less than 2,000 pigs, so that residents can express their concerns in complete transparency.
A consultation meeting planned
Faced with tensions, the town hall had planned a meeting for November 4, 2024 to address the issues of the project between the collective, the farmers carrying the project and local elected officials. The mayor, Christine de Neuvillehoped to reach a compromise acceptable to all parties. From now on, at the town hall, we are waiting to have the official file to make a decision. As for Gaec Berland, it claims to want to respect the standards in force, but local residents remain skeptical. THE works of this controversial project could begin in July next.
Photo credit: Laurent Bourdelas, writer, came to live in Vicq-sur-Breuilh for the calm and the landscapes.
