The search for forty local citizens has been launched, with the aim of taking part, in 2025, in future workshops linked to the future construction of a viaduct in Poussan.
We remember that the consultation meeting, on November 7 in Poussan, on the passage of the new Montpellier-Perpignan Line (LNMP) and the creation of a viaduct in this town, was very stormy. On leaving, the box intended to collect application forms for the next citizens' workshops contained only around ten copies.
Not enough to make the project owner, SNCF Réseaux, back down. Even accused by opponents of the project of wanting to propose “coloring workshops”, she will set up three citizen workshops in 2025 (read below). Citizen recruitment began in mid-November. Forty residents of the area are wanted. In detail, fifteen on application during the famous meeting of November 7. Five from local civic institutions. Then, twenty chosen by a professional recruitment firm.
A private practice requested
The recruiter in question is Stephenson Etudes. A professional firm “independent, in order to ensure neutrality of profiles and representativeness of participants”underlines SNCF Réseaux, contacted on the subject. Twenty adult women and men, living only in Sète, Balaruc-le-Vieux, Balaruc-les-Bains, Gigean, Bouzigues or Poussan, are being sought. “These firms are able to apply the Insee criteria of the territory”underlines the project owner, for whom the objective is to “collect opinions from everyone, regardless of their age, gender, socio-professional categories”. The stated aim being to“enrich the consultation process by making it possible to involve the “silent majority” who often, due to lack of information, solicitation or appropriation of the proposed approaches, do not express themselves in the more traditional consultation mechanisms”.
Three citizen workshops in 2025
IN PRACTICE Three citizen workshop sessions will be organized in 2025 “to ensure a good understanding of the project and long-term work”. The first session will be held on January 11, with the presentation of the approach and the project, an on-site visit, the identification of themes, the choice of experts to audition. Session 2 will take place on March 15, with the hearing of experts, lessons learned, division into sub-groups by theme and first recommendations. Session 3 will take place on May 24, in order to finalize the recommendations, establish priorities and validate the recommendations. “The role of citizens is to construct a reasoned opinion covering several themes the recommendations and recommendations of the inhabitants of the territory”summarizes SNCF Réseaux. The document will be attached to the specifications of the call for tenders for the co-construction contract for the Poussan viaduct, then integrated into the international architectural competition which will be launched. The winning architect must undertake to consult it, and follow it “as far as possible”specifies the SNCF.
The documents relating to these meetings are online on the project website www.ligne-montpellier-perpignan.com.
“What do you think in 2 words of the new Montpellier-Perpignan line?”
Stephenson Etudes works on a database of panelist listings. “These residents have given their consent in advance to be contacted for panel procedures, surveys, tests…”indicates SNCF Réseaux. In an LNMP survey email to which we had access, Stephenson Etudes asks respondents for their first/last name, gender, age, telephone number, profession, address, as well as a 7th question: “What do you think in 2 words of the new Montpellier-Perpignan line?”.
Paid €200 in Illicado gift cards
Email in which it is specified that citizens are reimbursed up to €200 in Illicado gift cards for their participation in the three workshops. “In order to cover travel costs, possible childcare, etc., note SNCF Réseaux. This also allows us to recognize, even modestly, the time spent and the work carried out.” The maximum total cost will therefore be €8,000. Well, that's if the forty citizens are found. Something that is still far from certain given the persistent opposition and the recent positioning of the mayors of Sète Agglo. On November 29, they asked the Prime Minister for a complete review of the file…
