the essential
This Thursday, November 7 in the morning, walkers witnessed an unfortunate scene in the city center of Revel: a heavy goods vehicle hit the roof of the emblematic market hall, which was currently being renovated. The monument was selected this year by the Heritage Foundation, led by Stéphane Bern, to finance its restoration.
Certainly, the belfry and the market hall of Revel will see all the colors. Given the urgency of restoring this monument, the municipality requested help from the Heritage Foundation to finance part of the work started at the beginning of October.
Good news: €500,000 has been granted, the maximum amount. Stéphane Bern himself was keen to see this emblematic 14th century market hall.
However, it is another project that Revel town hall will have to look into. This Thursday, October 7, shortly after 7 a.m., a heavy goods vehicle coming to deliver a merchant from Place Philippe VI in Valois made a bad move. The truck hit the monument, which lost part of its roof and broke supporting rafters on the other side of the work in progress.
Two projects to ensure
In parallel with the restoration project, we will have to look at the incident. For the moment, the area has been secured with barriers, as the affected area appears fragile. “After the experts have visited, we will provide reinforcements,” explains Alain Magnin-Lambert, municipal deputy responsible for trade, economy and markets. He has already found a solution with the Saturday morning traders, usually at this location.
“As far as I remember, this has never happened,” confides the elected official. Or at least, no incident had previously damaged the building to this extent.
Also read:
Heritage Lottery: the market hall and belfry of Revel, in Haute-Garonne, hit the jackpot
“For a few days, we had discussed the subject,” explains Christine Hanizet, head of the municipal police of Revel. “We were seeing a lot of movement of vehicles, which parked under the hall even though it is a sidewalk.”
The deliveryman who caused the incident was, however, in trouble. He respected delivery times and wanted to park in the dedicated area. But, this one is certainly too close to the market.
“We will have to rethink this area, to prevent trucks from getting too close,” confirms Alain Magnin-Lambert. “Given the width of the road, a delivery person can park and unload while still allowing traffic.”
Also read:
How the Mission of Stéphane Bern came to the rescue of the market hall and the belfry of Revel
This puzzle will therefore be the next subject to solve. “It’s a Tetris,” adds Christine Hanizet. Traders must be delivered, the construction site must continue and local residents must circulate. Especially since occasionally, the restoration will require the intervention of a crane which risks further complicating traffic.
In short, no luck for heritage. But at least the incident happened before the work, and not after the monument was restored.
