Cis a project that the Charentais-Maritimes have been hearing about for years, if not decades: establishing “eco-participation”, in other words, a toll, at the entrance to the Oléron viaduct, as for the Ile de Ré.
Six years ago, the project was rejected by the Department, headed by Dominique Bussereau. But since the start of 2024 and the financial difficulties encountered by Charente-Maritime, Michel Parent, the president of the Community of Communes (CdC) of Oléron, wants to believe in it again.
Consultation between the islands
As planned since last spring, the presidents of the Communities of Municipalities of Oléron, Île de Ré and Noirmoutier (Vendée) met this Wednesday, November 6 to join forces. “It’s a historic first,” rejoiced Michel Parent on the occasion, “it’s the first time that the three islands connected to the continent by a bridge have worked together! »
Fabien Gaborit, president of the CdC of Noirmoutier, Michel Parent, president of the CdC of the island of Oléron, Lionel Quillet, president of the CdC of the island of Ré.
M. A.
It must be said that Michel Parent, like his Vendée counterpart Fabien Gaborit, has long envied the resident Lionel Quillet who benefits from the income generated by the toll. “We have similar problems between our islands, and the ecotax helps absorb part of them. Particularly for the maintenance of the bridge, the development of soft mobility on the island and the fight against erosion,” comments Lionel Quillet. At his side, Michel Parent and Fabien Gaborit have sparkling eyes.
Change of situation
But it is the Department of Charente-Maritime that has the prerogative of establishing the famous toll. The latter has, for the moment, always put this option aside. “The need for funds for the renovation of the Oléron viaduct could change the situation,” assures the Oléron elected official. The work is now estimated at 60 million euros, 60 million which the Department does not have. » The president of the Community of Communes of Île de Ré adds that in recent years, “there has been an awareness of the consequences of overtourism in our three islands”.
Consequently, Michel Parent believes that today Sylvie Marcilly, president of the Departmental Council since 2021, “wonders” again about the question. “A decision in principle could even be taken in 2025 or 2026,” says Michel Parent, who says he is in favor of organizing a local referendum. “Projects are already in the drawers, they could be realized from 2028-2029,” the Oléron president begins to dream.
Caution in the Department
Among the projects that the elected official hopes to bring to fruition, the creation of a multimodal station is the cornerstone. This could thus see the light of day on the continent, in the commune of Bourcefranc-le-Chapus and make it possible to relieve congestion on the island territory by reducing the number of cars.
Questioned about these new declarations, Sylvie Marcilly is not directly opposed to the project: “I am going to invite the departmental elected officials to study the question, with all the detailed studies that we have. » While maintaining a certain reserve: “Nothing would be done without broad consultation, nothing will be done in haste. »
