But unfortunately, in a few weeks, concrete will replace the greenery. A space soon to be destroyed which will be replaced by a shopping center. “This project involvesur construction of four buildings which will regroup sept ccells commercial andactivities of service”states a letter from Tourcoing town hall to a real estate developer, in September 2018. In the list of businesses concerned: two restaurants including a drive-thru with terrace, an organic supermarket, a theme park and a nursery.
We didn’t need that much, we’re not in Las Vegas.
Naziha, member of the collective “Defense of gardens in Tourcoing”
“We didn’t need that much, we’re not in Las Vegas. It could cause quite a bit of pollution. This could lead to inconveniences such as rats or illegal dumping.criticizes Naziha. While the shopping center of the PRomanade of Flanders, economically, operates timidly. La Tourquennoise is sad about her garden. “This is not pas just a piece of land, cIt’s the lives of the residents that are at stake. I a great sensitivity toinjustice social”she insists.
“These gardens are a real heritage. This decision is the symbol of a way of poorly considering the inhabitants working-class neighborhoods. The town hall decided without asking us our avis”deplores the member of the collective “Defense of the gardens in Tourcoing”.
“The town hall and Mr. Darmanin had nevertheless undertaken not to build”she says. The building land in question would cover 13,957 m² including 1,700 m² of wetland. The municipal decision of two months ago thus plans to keep 1000 m² of this surface area for the gardens.
However, the town hall and Mr. Darmanin had agreed not to build.
Naziha, member of the collective ‘Defense of gardens in Tourcoing’
Thus, the verdict of October 18 is difficult to pass. In fact, this file has been under consideration since 2015. This year, the project saw the light of day. A developer approaches town hall. The local community quickly ratified the matter by accepting the constructability of the place. In 2016, the European Metropolis of Lille gave its agreement. It is proposed that the National Federation of Allotment Gardens move the green space to the Droulez farm, in another district of Tourcoing. An agreement that is barely coming to fruition.
A real estate developer filed a building permit in 2018 under the name “les Jardins d’Éden”. Almost three years pass and not a single shovel has been done. One week before the building permit expires, a bulldozer enters the family garden on rue des martyrs in Tourcoing. A few plants uprooted and nothing more. The constriction authorization then becomes void. This is because no compensation land has been found by the local and national allotment garden association to relocate the existing green space.
The family garden, rue des martyrs, in Tourcoing, extends over one hectare.
•
© NK
In 2022, the town hall of Tourcoing breaks its silence on this subject and speaks at a municipal council. “We will do our best as a teampand municipalitiespbut pour block this file and guarantee our 14,000 square meters of gardens family pour THE Tourquennois and Tourquenoises”declares Doriane Bécue (DVD), mayor of Tourcoing. “We will maintain 1,000 square meters of garden”added Isabelle Mariage, deputy mayor in charge of town planning. To go in the same direction, this time, theThe European Metropolis of Lille claims to want “protect the garden of rue des martyrs”relates Naziha.
It is in this year 2022 that the committed resident created an association to delve into the issues in more detail. The former journalist reveals shortcomings after examining the building permit. The promoter then hastened to appeal. Naziha’s collective mainly points the finger at Tourcoing town hall.
A petition was launched and collected nearly 36,500 signatures. Associations like the “Earth Uprisings” or even “Extinction Rebellion” gave their support. Following to this emulation, the former mayor of Tourcoing, Gérald Darmanin, reacted at the end of June 2024, during a trip to his city. “He gave an ultimatum to the people involved in the case, but it was of no use”Naziha report.
Finally, to everyone’s surprise, on October 18, the municipality decided to reinstate the building permit. On December 9, during the last municipal council, it was time for questions from the opposition.
According to the well-informed Naziha, the coalition “Ambition commune” parle “d’aberration” and a “project from another time”when the Greens mention that if the project had become obsolete, it was in no way legitimate to revive it. “We are trying to present ourselves as the first defender of natural spaces and at the same time, we are in the process of authorizing a building permit for this area”explains Katy Vuylsteker, elected Les Écologists at the town hall of Tourcoing, on November 10, 2024, at the microphone of France 3 Nord-Pas-de-Calais. In response to this, theThe town hall ensures that the lost land will be compensated elsewhere in the city, near rue des martyrs.
Katy Vuylsteker, elected by the Ecologists at the town hall of Tourcoing, criticizes the decision of the municipal council.
•
© Baptiste Mezerette / FTV
“It doesn’t hold water”takes offense to the member of the residents’ collective. If the subject of the family garden on rue des martyrs in Tourcoing will not have finished talking about it, to date, no date has been given concerning the launch of work on the commercial space.
“Everything ist a situation so that the works are going well and starting as soon as possible”assures Jean-Marie Vuylsteker, first deputy of the city of Tourcoing. The elected official speaks of green space as “a poorly maintained wasteland where people used plots without paying contributions.” For him, if this decision was made, it is because for the Family Gardens association, “it was the best decision to make”he says.
