Coming by bike from Chambéry, Bourget-du-Lac and Aix-les-Bains, 80 people demonstrated this Saturday, February 26 on the road leading to Chambéry Savoie Mont-Blanc airport. The appeal was launched by several environmental associations.
They denounce the air and noise pollution caused by air traffic, but also the payment of public money to the Vinci group which manages the Savoyard airport.
A climatic aberration
This mobilization is intended “symbolic in this holiday period” for Christophe Lebrun, spokesperson for Friends of the Earth. “The airport is more than full at the moment” he said looking up at an airplane. In addition, kerosene is not taxedrecalls Christophe Lebrun. “It is a tax system that could allow the retraining of people who work in aviation”. Activists on the spot, like Titouan also denounce air traffic for the benefit of a few “ultra-rich”. Christophe Lebrun goes one better “a jet pollutes as much as a ‘big plane’ when it’s only for a few people”.
Airliners, private jets, a ecological aberration for Catherine, who gives voice a little further. “I am bewildered, all this for private traffic financed by our taxes!” The activist refers to the public service delegation benefiting the Vinci group, which manages the airport, and the aid from the Region that is paid to it. A situation that saddens Laetitia, behind her bike. “It is inconsistent with the climate emergency. _Money should be redirected to the ecological transition_.”
Gwen, sign in hand, is a resident of the airport and she intends to denounce _“noise and air pollution”of the airport. “We are in one of the most polluted valleys in France.” “We are in the midst of a climate emergency, and I doubt the relevance of this airport”, concludes the Bourgetaine.
A “dangerous” airport
A little further on, Marc, leaning on his bike, points out the dangerousness from Chambery airport. “It’s wedged between two mountain ranges and a lake. In order to land, planes have to take sharp turns, and they pass really low. There are going to be accidents one day.” He pleads so that the local urban plan takes air corridors into consideration “to prevent planes from flying over the city”.