It was a long road this Monday, June 17, for travelers who, after being refused entry from Sisteron and dislodged from Chateau-Arnoux-St-Auban, finally settled near the Oraison racecourse. A situation which once again highlights the lack of major traffic areas in the Alpes de Haute-Provence department.
At least 80 caravans of travelers were on their way to the Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban aerodrome (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) this Monday, June 17, after being refused entry to Sisteron.
Some of the vehicles managed to settle on the ground but the rapid intervention of the gendarmerie did not allow the rest to arrive on the infrastructure of the aerodrome which had to suspend its activity for part of the day as explains Yannick Gendron, chief pilot of the Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban aerodrome platform.
“We were a little aware of the movements of travelers, they were refused at Sisteron and quite naturally they stopped where there was space, that is to say on the airfield which has 84 hectares of lawns, he explains to BFM DICI For them it was very interesting, except that it is a very dangerous place with aeronautical activity and it is out of the question to receive children on a platform like this. this.”
Smooth evacuation
Around 9 a.m., around fifteen teams entered the site but due to the intervention of the gendarmerie the rest were unable to access the aerodrome. The evacuation went smoothly.
“It happened in the discussion with the intervention of the State which I thank,” explains Yannick Gendron, adding: “It had been a while since they had tried to force the passage a little. aerodrome. At the same time it is not a place intended for that. I hear their problem and I know it because I am elected, but we have an economic activity which could have been put in danger.
Airfield activity was suspended for part of the day and was able to resume early in the afternoon. As for the Travelers, this Monday afternoon, they were installed on land located next to the Oraison racecourse.
