It was in 2014, following the closure of Paul-Valéry college, that the Douets de Tours association was launched. “We realized that people loved their neighborhood and wanted to defend it. A neglected and isolated neighborhood, with very serious road problems. It is to promote the Douets that we founded our apolitical association”, remembers Laurent Rimasson, president and co-founder, who continues: “We got into the habit of meeting the mayor in office once a year to play the role of whistleblowers. Roads, sidewalks and parking lots have been resurfaced, green spaces redesigned. »
Several successes to the association’s credit
In just two years, the association got to the heart of the matter, broadening its field of action and moving closer to the association Bien vivre au nord de Tours (BVNT). “The Mettray town hall has secured the sites of 37e Parallel and Gadawi park. » In 2016, the Douets de Tours took up the subject of the privatization of Avenue Jouhanneau by the Cnav (National Old Age Insurance Fund). The residents finally won their case.
Then it was the turn of the Choiseul high school. “With the former principal Éric Gommé, we managed to unblock the file and the high school students are now safe on a large esplanade. During the clean-up work on Rue de Suisse, traders suffered, there was noise and they were able to receive compensation. The floods of the Petite Gironde were recurrent. It took us seven years to move the lines and in 2024, the work finally began.”
A much criticized appeasement plan
The latest traffic file got the better of Douets de Tours. Laurent Rimasson agrees : “There were traffic and speed problems. The area served as load shedding. We discussed a calming project with elected officials and traders. It wasn’t perfect, it would have needed a roundabout, but blocking the area was out of the question. On October 9, the City of Tours left a letter in the mailboxes quoting us, which may have led people to believe that we had validated the plan. Two weeks later, everyone discovers the blocks. We were angry too! This had never been mentioned before us, contrary to the statements of certain media which relayed information without verifying their sources. We were attributed comments that were in no way ours. We were victims of harassment, insults, threats. We went through an ordeal. For the residents, the blocks are our fault. We tried to explain, but the damage was done. The City’s communication was disastrous. »
After being taken to task, the seven members of the office unanimously voted to close the association as it prepared to celebrate its tenth anniversary. The president says he is proud of his close-knit team of volunteers. “We managed two reading boxes and the Vigilant Neighbors system. We’ll have to find someone else. The association will give all the money it has left to charitable organizations, we have already taken the steps with the prefecture.” “It’s us who end up peaceful!” »whispers the secretary, Nathalie Serrault.
