ÇThis is no exception. Almost every year, the football and rugby fields of Villeneuve-les-Salines, on Avenue Robespierre, are invaded by caravans of the travelling community in the summer. In 2024, on June 8, a first group settled in, followed the next day by a second. In total, a…
ÇThis is no exception. Almost every year, the football and rugby fields of Villeneuve-les-Salines, avenue Robespierre, are invaded by caravans of the traveling community in the summer. In 2024 again, on June 8, a first group set up, followed the next day by a second. In total, around fifty convoys took possession of the premises, thus depriving the local associations and the agglomeration’s recreation center of any sporting activities. On Thursday, June 27, the Charente-Maritime prefecture issued a formal notice to the occupants, ordered to leave the grounds within 24 hours. “In the event of non-compliance, the grounds may be forcibly evacuated with the assistance of the police,” the prefect warned. This Monday, June 1is July, the caravans had not left the grounds.
On June 8, 9 and 11, the community representative responsible for welcoming travellers, Philippe Chabrier, had begun mediation to obtain the group’s departure. In vain. The occupants declared that they “did not want to go to a reception area and wanted to park on this site all summer”. “These are local families who regularly occupy places in the urban area illegally,” explains the representative. The eviction was requested by the prefecture to put pressure on them. Often, they end up leaving the place before the police are called.” But to go and settle elsewhere, illegally.
Water pollution
This decision comes after several reports of disturbances to public order and health. “The lack of sanitary facilities, wastewater and waste disposal networks on the occupied sports fields have led to pollution of human origin around the site, within the marsh and its surrounding paths, to the discharge of sanitary water into the rainwater network leading to certain pollution, as well as a discharge by infiltration of grey water into the lakes of Villeneuve-les-Salines”, the authorities note.
The illegal connection to an electrical box near Avenue Robespierre using dangerous, uninsulated electrical cables “presents a risk of fire for vehicles and electrocution for both local residents and the illegal occupants themselves”. Another illegal connection to a fire hydrant “will make it difficult for emergency services to intervene if necessary”. Finally, complaints of “almost daily” nighttime disturbances have been filed by local residents.
Eight reception areas
Monday 1is July, another group of a dozen caravans set up camp near the parking lot on Avenue Simone-Veil. Philippe Chabrier regrets these situations. “The eighth reception area of the agglomeration in Châtelaillon-Plage is almost finished, in accordance with the departmental plan.” This problem is a headache for elected officials. “If the land is too protected against these occupations, it loses its primary function.”
