Le 5e departmental plan for welcoming Travelers will be defined by a prefectural decree taken before the end of the year. The main requirements that will apply for the next six years are already known. They have just received a positive opinion from the municipal councils of Rochefort, Tonnay-Charente, as well as the community council of Rochefort Océan. What should we remember?
First, and the fact was already known since 2023, the permanent reception area in Rochefort will not reopen. Located in the Sisters area, the site has been closed since August 2022 and the incidents following the murder of Antonio Delorme, a 40-year-old man from the Traveler community. Since then, the location has remained attached to their mourning.
1.2 million euros
On the other hand, the permanent reception area of Tonnay-Charente located on Route de Surgères will be rehabilitated during the summer of 2025 to be ready “for All Saints' Day”, indicates Éric Authiat, mayor of the town and vice-president of Caro ( Rochefort Océan urban community) in charge of the policy of welcoming travelers. The sum of 1.2 million euros will be committed. It had been inaccessible since mid-2023 and damage committed by the occupants. Sewerage drainage system, sanitary facilities and electricity need to be redone.
To be on target, another area of small passages for around twenty caravans must be set up within a radius of 20 kilometers around the hospital, that is to say potentially in any commune of La Caro. But more likely around Rochefort, close to access to schools and public services. “We need to find a potential area open all year round,” continues Éric Authiat, specifying that it will be a grassy area with access to fluids. “There won’t necessarily be any buildings. » Containing around ten pitches available in the summer, the same area already exists at the exit of Soubise.
Expectations
The large passage area (200 places) located at the Péfineau mill must undergo some work: “Improve internal circulation, better distribute water and electricity by increasing the number of delivery points,” explains Éric Authiat.
Other new developments: the transformation of the Bois de Chartres social housing estate in Rochefort into a ten-lot family rental land project, following negotiations with the Public Housing Office. Another similar project is being studied within the perimeter of the Agglomeration. This involves developing land to allow the permanent reception of Travelers who will become tenants (in traditional areas, they pay a fee). It must offer at least access to water, electricity and a toilet block next to which caravans come to set up occasionally. It represents, in fact, for travelers, a means of partial settling down and corresponds to their new expectations.
It should also be noted that all inter-municipalities will participate in the financing of a position of departmental mediator coordinator for Travelers, a system which has existed successfully in the past.
