The Marseilles: You are against the renovation of this theater in the city center which dates from the beginning of the century ?
Bernard Auriol: Obviously not, but I am absolutely against the fact that the mayor of Béziers uses money from the Agglomeration for his Biterrois projects.
He is going to build an auditorium in the Théâtre des Variétés, whereas it was planned to be built near the music conservatory since it became a community responsibility. It was necessary for it to retain the label obtained in 2016 as an establishment with community influence.
Conservatory which operates at the Château de la Gayonne, in the city of Devèze in Béziers…
Well yes. An urban renewal plan signed by the City, the State and the CAF provided, with this auditorium, equipment open to the neighborhood which really needs it. But now the auditorium will be installed with money from the Agglomeration in premises that belong to the City, in the city center. That’s what I regret.
The cost is not the same either ?
BA: The budget was 3.5 to 4 million euros, not counting subsidies from the State but also from the Departmental Council and the Region. In the city center, we are at 8 million, Robert Ménard himself predicts 12, and I say that we will arrive at 14. Imagine having to bring in the large materials by helicopter! The only saving will be the car parks, there will be none, while the dance school will also be located there.
You fear that the same scenario will repeat itself with the Palace of the Bishops, where projects follow one another. First a museum, which is why the Department sold the building for a symbolic euro, then a luxury residence, a senior residence, a museum of sacred art, finally a large unique museum and now the offices of the Agglo …
BA: It will cost the Agglomeration a fortune to build offices in the old courthouse. And without parking, what will the employees do?
So in your opinion why this decision?
BA: Robert Ménard says that a museum is expensive, but so are a stadium or a swimming pool. That’s why we pay taxes … And then he had to withdraw his plan to sell to a promoter for a senior residence before the administrative court challenged him.
Is this central city hegemony a habit ?
BA: Just look at the Diary of Biterrois. But there is another striking example. Why did he stop or postpone the renovation of the port of Sérignan, when it is the maritime facade of the Agglomeration? Why didn’t he do what the Departmental Council did at the port of Chichoulet in Vendres? Because it is in a town managed by Frédéric Lacas [ex-président de l’Agglo, Ndlr.] and above all its goal is to relieve the finances of Béziers.
What do the mayors of the Agglo say apart from the eight of the opposition group ?
BA: Robert Ménard leads alone, he has puppet vice-presidents. You can see it in the photos, he is hardly ever surrounded by municipal or community elected officials. When someone disagrees with him, he insults him. This is what he did for a long time with Florence Taillade (elected LR de Valras), now he no longer even responds to opponents.
Yet he is successful with his constituents?
BA: Yes, he’s a stage juggler. His great strength is his nerve. He speaks well, even if he says on Tuesday the opposite of what he said on Sunday. He’s been on TV a lot, but you’ll notice it’s still without opponents.
