“We are more than happy. It is a relief. “ Patrick Fertil is jubilant. With other inhabitants of the small rural town of Fournès, 1,000 inhabitants, in the Gard, between Nîmes and Avignon, he succeeded in bending the e-commerce giant Amazon. The mayor of the town, Thierry Boudinaud, him, looks grim. Yesterday, during a press conference, with the mayors of neighboring municipalities, the elected official announced, looking gloomy, the abandonment “Final” the project to set up a 38,000 m2 parcel sorting center, with an average height of 14 m, on 14 ha of land in the immediate vicinity of the A9 motorway.
And less than 5 km from the famous Pont du Gard. Contacted by West France, the real estate developer Argan confirms the abandonment of the project by Amazon. As for the American firm, it will not ” no comment “ on a project on which she had “No announcement”. “This project represented 80 million euros of investment and job creation. However, we are in a basin of life which was in great need of it ”, sighs the mayor.
No appeal of the court decision
The promoter has decided not to not appeal a court decision on November 9. The Nîmes administrative court, seized by opponents of the project, canceled the environmental authorization issued in November 2019 by the prefect of the department in Argan. In the eyes of the State representative, the project presented “Overriding reasons of overriding public interest” with the creation of 600 full-time jobs. But the administrative judges considered that the creation of these jobs was not demonstrated. And that even if it did, neither these jobs, nor “The economic benefits are not enough to characterize an imperative reason of major interest”. On the other hand, the project threatened “Around fifteen protected species”, and in particular the shrike. No question of endangering them in the name of economic development, said the magistrates.
A “great victory” for Corinne Lepage
A ” nice victory “ for the former Minister of the Environment Corinne Lepage, whose law firm represented opponents of the project. For her colleague Roxane Sageloli, a decision that will set a precedent, because she “Favors the protection of species and natural habitats over job creation, including in a tight zone”. Jean-Loup Pizon, vice-president of the France Nature Environnement association for Languedoc-Roussillon, is delighted, after the announcement of this abandonment, “That we care a little more about future generations rather than the immediate interest”. The project brought together a broad opposition against it, ranging from environmental defenders to those of small businesses, who felt threatened by the juggernaut of e-commerce. Last January, a demonstration brought together 1,000 opponents on the spot, including another former Minister of the Environment, the president of Génération Écologie Delphine Batho.
“Amazon will go elsewhere”
The mayor of Fournès is sorry: “Compensatory measures were planned, with 13 hectares which would have been preserved for the shrikes. But the judge ignored it. The legislator must take up this debate, and we must manage to reconcile economic development with environmental protection. “
A few years ago, the municipality had sought to establish, in the same place, a village of brands, already provoking, at the time, an outcry. “This project went to Miramas (Bouches-du-Rhône)”, regrets the mayor. “Amazon will go elsewhere, to Orange or Nîmes. “ His opponents, they intend to push their advantage. “We must now turn the page and work with the association foreshadowing the Regional Natural Park”, pleads Patrick Fertil. “With a charter of environmental excellence, to put up safeguards and prevent this type of project. “ The promoter Argan indicates that he “Will submit a new file” for another brand on the site “For a project of less importance”. But Amazon in Fournès, it’s over and over.
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