For several days, Boulevard Georges-Leygues has been divided between a narrowed traffic lane and a gaping hole intended, ultimately, for soft mobility and pedestrians. A revolution which affects the entrance to the bastide and which, although it has sparked some protests, has not provoked the same anger as fourteen years ago, regarding the square.
At that time, the mayor then in place, a man named Jérôme Cahuzac, had also undertaken major works in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, in the name of the “Action Bastide” operation. And the highlight of this major project was to remove the car from what was then called Place Sainte-Catherine. A high point that quickly became a sticking point between the existing municipality and the Traders' Union. The latter, and in particular the residents of what would become the square, were particularly opposed to the end of parking all around the church.
Anger of traders
It was during the month of May 2010 that relations became strained between the two parties, despite a consultation meeting. The movement of parking to the future town hall parking lot, free, does not calm people's minds.
The anger of the traders would be expressed even in the street, during the first day of construction, August 23, 2010. Around fifteen of them, members of the Girondins neighborhood association, were on a war footing, from 8 a.m., to block the passage of vehicles. Two hours of discussions were necessary to calm things down. The demolition of Place Sainte-Catherine could begin, even though the demonstrators had not won their case regarding the possibility of circulating and parking on Rue des Girondins during the three months of work.
The following days should not have calmed their concerns, since barely a few blows of the pickax had been given, the old cemetery linked to the original 13th century churche century resurfaced. The discovery of two graves raised fears that the work would be stopped, in the event of excavations ordered by the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs… This did not happen, the City deciding to change its plans to avoid uncovering all of the graves present in the area, despite an additional cost on the amount of work.
At the beginning of February 2011, the square was inaugurated, in the presence of a few traders worried about their future and decided to let the first councilor know… Who urged the Villeneuvois and Villeneuvoises “to appropriate this square”.
However, it took a few years before we saw them benefit from it. Because, highly mineralized, this space intended for pedestrians was avoided in fine weather. The question of seeing the car return there had even been a subject during the last municipal elections…
By greening the square in 2022, Guillaume Lepers, then mayor, definitively settled the debate. And it seems that this time, with the addition of trees, benches and water jets, the people of Villeneuvoise enjoy staying there without the risk of coming across a vehicle. In a few months, it will be up to the new Allées Georges-Leygues to convince them to do the same.