Thirteen shops or businesses have opened there in just four years.
With less than 600 inhabitants, what is the recipe for Verteillac (Dordogne)?
Upon his arrival, the mayor implemented a new mode of operation and advocated “involvative democracy”.
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“We just have to shift it, there you go, put it there, it makes a decoration”. Verteillac, in Dordogne, has only 600 inhabitants, but is poised to double the size of its population. A few hours before the Festival of Lights, Fabienne gives the final instructions: “It’s buzzing, with 250 children this evening, who come with their families, so every year, we have around 1,500 people.” There is also entertainment in the six cafes and restaurants. The customers seem to be the first to be surprised to find so many of them there. “It’s really surprising to have so many things to welcome the public in a small country town,” observe one. “Here, there was a magic, I think, some time ago people met, there was an impulse and then it worked.” believes another.
The recipe is surely the mayor of the town who has it. When he arrived four years ago, Régis Defraye implemented a new method of operation. Residents are invited to participate in municipal decisions through committees: “We are trying to create a model of implicative democracy. Instead of being between elected officials only, so 2-3 people, we said to ourselves ‘we are going to open up’. On certain themes it works particularly well since we have sometimes dozens of people within a committee.”
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Shops: but how does this village manage to have so many?
A quarter of residents are involved in municipal life. Lorène Godineau is a trader. In her free time, she organizes the festive life of the town. This year, more than 100 concerts were held in Verteillac: “The idea is to liven up the village a little and the more people there are, the more lively there is, the more people want to come to your business.”
And it works. In four years, the village has seen thirteen business openings and seven business takeovers. Verteillac even attracts residents from the larger surrounding towns. At nightfall, lanterns in hand, the light parade sets off and the magic happens. “I love the Festival of Lights. We are Santa’s little elves”laughs a child. Supported by hundreds of motivated residents, Verteillac closes a new year full of entertainment.
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