The two minority groups of the Villeneuve-lez-Avignon municipal council were against certain points appearing in the revision of the PLU (local urban plan) which was approved on July 2, 2020. This is why “Villeneuve sociale, ecological et solidaire ” and “Union citoyenne de Villeneuve” filed an appeal with the administrative court of Nîmes at the beginning of the summer of 2020 to request the cancellation of the deliberation.
Two and a half years later, the two groups decided to “put an end to the appeal, in agreement with our lawyer“, means Camille Gavazzi, from Union citoyenne de Villeneuve. He explains: “This appeal was mainly related to the destruction of part of the scrubland located on the heights of the city to bring out the ZAC des Bouscatiers. This ZAC was defended by the majority but it is a project fought since 2006. A petition opposing it had gathered more than 2,000 signatures.” Or, in September 2021, the municipality and the developer Nexity threw in the towel.
“This victory that we offered to Villeneuve and its inhabitants led us to reconsider the interest of pursuing our legal action as it was posed, the main subject having fallen by itself.“, justifies Camille Gavazzi. The two opposition groups had also made this appeal to fight the creation of a golf course in the plain of the Abbey. Today, the structure is built. “Of which act. We trust to have intelligent management“, launches Morgan Buisson from the list “social, ecological and solidarity Villeneuve”.
“The question of town planning in Villeneuve is causing concern for a growing number of inhabitants”
The other point that had prompted the two groups to go to court was the question of the development of the Vallon des Chèvres. “It is a submersible zone. We remain vigilant and we accompany the collective of local residents who have set up in their efforts“, attests Morgan Buisson. The two minority groups thank the people who had helped to pay for this appeal via crowdfunding. They informed the administrative court by mail last November of their decision.
Even if this action stops, the elected opposition members assure that they “don’t give up the fight“and that they”will relaunch a similar procedure” if the subject came back on the table. “The question of town planning in Villeneuve is causing concern for a growing number of inhabitants. We are here to support them in their mobilization, when it comes to preserving natural spaces in the collective interest.“, concludes Morgan Buisson.
Mary Meunier
