the essential
Led by Marie-Claude Berly and Brigitte Barèges, the town hall of Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne) invited representatives of agricultural unions this Thursday evening, November 28, to a dialogue to discuss the consequences of the demonstrations of November 26. A surreal exchange when the amount of damage from spills in several places in the city is estimated at at least 300,000 euros.
It was an almost lunar meeting that we attended on Thursday evening, November 28, in Montauban. The City, represented by the mayor, Marie-Claude Berly with at her side the deputy Brigitte Barèges and Jean-Pierre Foissac, deputy for works, invited the representatives of the FDSEA and the JA for a dialogue after the monster demonstration of Tuesday evening. Damien Garrigues, president of the FDSEA, Benjamin Checchin, his counterpart from the Young Farmers and Jean-Baptiste Gibert, former president of the JA, responded to this invitation.
This impromptu meeting took place at the Municipal Technical Center, which has been transformed into a recycling center since municipal agents store tons of waste dumped by farmers in different parts of the city, in particular in front of the Prefecture and the premises of the DDT on a completely blocked Sainte-Claire street.
We support you, but we are collateral victims.
Around thirty agents from the roads, green spaces, parks and gardens and cleanliness services have been taking turns since Tuesday evening to collect waste, sort it and then send it to Drimm, with the exception of tires. and cans of oil or gasoline which are not accepted. Faced with the accumulation of waste, the City had to find another site to store the waste.
At 200 euros per tonne, knowing that municipal employees have already collected 600 tonnes, the bill is starting to rise. “We support you, but we are collateral victims. We already have at least 300,000 euros worth, not to mention that we may have to redo streets which are not suitable for the passage of more than 200 tractors,” said affirmed Marie-Claude Berly, before becoming emboldened. “Don’t tell me you’re going to come back tomorrow. Go somewhere else…”
Damien Garrigues was initially ironic before taking the remarks seriously. “Next time, we'll make piles, that will avoid sorting. If you don't have the means to collect, you just have to leave the waste in the street and the State will take care of it. We understand the dismay of the town hall, but it is the State which is responsible. We were taken for imbeciles and farmers hang themselves every day.
The issue of security was also addressed and union representatives admit that they were surprised by the scale of the mobilization. “We were expecting around a hundred convoys and we ended up with 235 teams, tippers and blades. We were overwhelmed by the scale, admits the boss of the FDSEA. But we controlled the troops and the police didn't have to intervene. We saved the furniture.”
“It’s better to have dumpsters than dead people”
And Benjamin Checchin outbid. “We blocked the roads, covered the speed cameras, removed the road signs, but they don't listen to us. Demonstrations become dangerous when people have nothing left to lose. They would have given up from the start, there is no wouldn't have had all that…”
In turn, Brigitte Barèges affirmed her support. “We are behind you, but today, above all, we wanted to make you aware of the consequences. We want to prevent this from happening again. Montauban would like you to be a little cooler. It is the people of Montalban who pay and that represents a point of “The agents are exhausted and have other tasks to take care of.”
“At least they have salaries,” retorted Benjamin Checchin. “Last year, I lost 130,000 euros on my farm. My pay is zero and I count on my wife to stock the fridge. Today, we are in the rind and that’s why you have these piles of rubbish.”
Damien Garrigues also exaggerated the point. “Today, if I pass on my farm to my daughters, I put a rope around their necks. A farmer screws up every day. Empty bins are better than dead people…”
The president of the FDSEA made an unusual proposal to Brigitte Barèges: meet the President of the Republic. “I am the boss of FDSEA 82, you are the boss of Montauban and we want to see the boss. We will take you, we know the route.”
“Not by tractor,” replied the MP.
