Farmers in Tarn-et-Garonne Continue Illegal Dumping Protests: Updates and Impact on Public Roads

It’s a well-oiled surprise ritual. Farmers from Tarn-et-Garonne once again wanted to express their dissatisfaction on Friday November 17, 2023. In their demands, the increase in production costs which is hurting many producers and breeders.

There was the large departmental demonstration on Wednesday November 8, 2023, where around 150 tractors converged from all over Tarn-et-Garonne in the morning to meet in Montauban, before putting pressure on the prefecture where a delegation from the Federation departmental association of farmers’ unions (FDSEA) and Young Farmers (JA) was received by the tenant of the premises, Vincent Roberti.

The Garonne bridge blocked

Then, to start the following week off right, there was a big operation in Castelsarrasin. This time, it was the sub-prefecture that was targeted, with a regular covering of slurry on the surrounding walls and the entrance gate, before blocking traffic on Rue de la Fraternité with help. huge tires.

At the same time, the roundabout in the Artel area, on the outskirts of the town, more particularly the ramp which leads to interchange no. 9 of the A62 motorway, was also blocked with slurry reinforcements. , tires and various trash.

This time, Friday November 17, disgruntled farmers decided to attack another strategic traffic axis, in the south of Tarn-et-Garonne: the Verdun-sur-Garonne bridge. The tons of waste were deposited before 5 a.m. There was a jumble of slurry, grass and branches, plastic containers, impressive quantities of kiwis, cables, pieces of wood, pallets and numerous other debris, not forgetting tractor tires.

A cost for the community

Cars were unable to properly cross the bridge for many tens of minutes, creating impressive traffic jams. The drops were on the right lane coming from Dieupentale.

The gendarmes and departmental technical services, the bridge being a work of art belonging to the departmental council, went to the site. According to our information, at 9 a.m., alternating traffic was put in place to make the area as fluid as possible. The disturbances continued all morning.

Two other points were identified in the town headed by Stéphane Tuyères: the Super U and Intermarché supermarkets. Brands which suffered the same fate as their counterparts during previous operations. The deputy mayors Yasmina Boumlil and Serge Terral as well as the municipal technical services were obviously mobilized.

The addition of these degradations promises to be steep. In an initial assessment, just after the demonstration on November 8, the departmental services estimated the damage on public roads at 80,000 euros, as well as the repair of certain municipal entrance signs, either damaged or returned. . The sum could rise to several hundred thousand euros.