The establishment of an area for travelers next to factories suspected of polluting the air raises eyebrows

An investigation prior to the declaration of public utility of the project to create a high-traffic area for Travelers was opened this Monday, November 4. The latter criticize this decision, as do environmental associations.

“It's not great to throw ourselves into fields in which there is a danger to our health“. Mimi, an itinerant citizen installed in a parking lot in the Périgny activity zone in Charente-Maritime, is annoyed. The creation of a passage area neara composting unit and a road paving plant are worrying Travelers.

This implementation project raises questions. For a month, Mimi and her family have been installed in the parking lot of the Périgny activity zone. But the city would like to see them move, which he contests. “I don't want to say that it's not nice but… We have children, we have elderly people, if they are serious illnesses… We have already lost people to cancer, there are some time. We wouldn't want this to happen again.”

If this project for a transit area were to see the light of day, Mimi's response to move there is categorical: “no, not at all, really not. If we know that there are pesticides in the air and that we can get cancer, I don't think anyone is going to do it.“ It is difficult to believe the goodwill of the public authorities according to him: “We have been promised so many things for so many years and most of the time, they are never delivered. We still have a little doubt.“

Located on the edge of agricultural operations, suspected of being the cause of pediatric cancers due to pesticides, particularly in the Aunis plain, this sector is singled out by environmental associations such as Santé Avenir Environnement.

The cause, according to them, is industrial pollution and pesticides used in the surrounding fields. But the La Rochelle area assures us that the nearby factories meet standards. “I understand their concerns, but we are definitely dealing with regulated temporary parking, which will vary from one week to three weeks. We are not in the habitat. People will not be exposed to supposed substances, which are not proven today, since the asphalt plant meets the latest environmental standards“, says Philippe Chabrier, responsible for welcoming travelers from the La Rochelle area.

In addition, beyond the potential danger of this sector, the risk is the non-use of the site by travelers.

Marie Ligonnière

Mayor of Périgny

An argument that does not go over well with the mayor of Périgny, Marie Ligonnière. Since her inauguration, she opposed this project voted for by her predecessors. “What message can we send, on such a location, which is an extension of an asphalt company and a composting unit? Humanly, I don't understand. In addition, beyond the potential danger of this sector, the risk is the non-use of the site by travelers. Studies have been carried out on air quality and levels of pesticides have been discovered. Planting people, whoever they may be, on possible offshoots of an asphalt company and in the middle of an agricultural area, can raise questions about the reception conditions in terms of health in the sector..”

Obliged to comply with the law, the La Rochelle metropolitan area must create this high-traffic area as quickly as possible under penalty of sanction. The location of Périgny should therefore not be called into question. The cost of the project is estimated at 1.5 million euros. Another is also to be built in the town of La Jarne.