What future for the historic square of this town in Val-d'Oise?

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“If there’s no one there, that means everything’s fine!” » Cécile Escobar has a sense of the formula. Humor too. This chilly morning of Saturday, November 30, Jean-Paul Jeandon, the mayor (Ps) of Cergy (Val-d'Oise), wanders through the maze of Touleuses accompanied by the deputy (Ps) for Youth and by Denis Février, Deputy (Ps) for Public Peace. A neighborhood visit punctuated by several meeting points ignored by Cergys residents who preferred to stay warm.

The most courageous, there are some, are there to question the mayor and his deputies about the future of the neighborhood and more precisely its place. During the riots in the summer of 2023, his supermarket was looted and burned. It still hasn't reopened. End of August 2024: repeat. This time, it was the early food which fell prey to a fire. Accidental or criminal, a police investigation must determine it.

The future of Place des Touleuses

Residents are worried. What remedy applied against the disintegration of the square of the Cergy pioneer district born in the early days of the New Town? That’s good, the mayor has ideas to breathe new life into it. “I would be ready to buy the premises of the greengrocer from its owner to raze it and open this place to the outside. This place needs to be completely reviewed. Businesses are turned in on themselves, it’s a system that no longer works.” “Before, we had a butcher, we need businesses that bring life to this place,” breathes this resident. “Yes, we have to think about a project, reconfigure things,” admits Jean-Paul Jeandon, “but this place does not belong to the City but to the Asl… And then people want local shops but they don’t have them live… ”

While waiting for the major maneuvers, the City is striving to consolidate the medical center. “We are in contact with a general practitioner, but nothing is certain yet, because it is not easy.”

The little troop heads for the Touleuses Pourpres. The ideal place to discuss the thorny issue of student shared accommodation which is ruining the daily lives of local residents. Good news, the student market is “drying up” according to the mayor. The reason: a construction policy that meets demand. “We will soon deliver 200 additional rooms and a social residence in the Greater Center,” announces Jean-Paul Jeandon.

A little further on, stop in front of Bavs surrounded by garbage bags and rubbish of all kinds. “It’s dirty and not maintained, people don’t dare put their hands on it…” “We’re going to change them all with a system of pedals,” inform the elected officials.

A quick leap and the walkers are at the Glades. The Asl representative rushes in and puts his feet in the problem. The subject: the wave of burglaries hitting the neighborhood. 28 break-ins in one year. Never seen before. “There are people who are afraid, Mr. Mayor! » “Yes, I know, but we are not going to talk about it today since there is a meeting planned for Wednesday evening.”

The conversation turns to the proliferation of rats or the too low intensity of public lighting which prevents motorists from clearly distinguishing pedestrians when they cross. “It’s super dangerous!” » “Yes, you are right,” admits the mayor. We have a problem with pedestrian crossings.” The comment is recorded. The promise, perhaps, of being taken into account.

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