They are about twenty, maybe more. Young and old, all environmental activists, to take turns in this house located in the plain of the Durance.
A chain closed by a padlock is placed on the entrance gates. Inside we organize ourselves: barbecues, blankets, tables, opponents prepare for long-term occupation. Some are stockpiles of food.
An 86 hectare industrial zone project
Their hobbyhorse: the extension of the Pertuis shopping area. 86 hectares which must be cut back on the Durance plain. 56 are intended to accommodate industrial projects, the remaining 30 to be granted to the Pellenc company, owned by the mayor of the city, Roger Pellenc. A project in the works for many years but which is starting to materialize.
“In the last two months everything has accelerated, the houses have been sold, the demolition permits have been issued, we have decided to take action to prevent these demolitions, and, ultimately, put a stop to this projectt“Mya is justified.”This is why we occupy this already sold house, if we are inside it cannot be destroyed“.
Here it is a Potato Zone! Cath, environmental activist
For these environmental activists, close to the “Earth Uprisings”, this project is a symbol: “we are against commercial zones, the artificialization, the concreteization of spaces. Here it is an agricultural plain that our elders exploited, about thirty families still live on these lands, we reject this industrialization which will put them out“explains Cath, who is one of the occupants of the house.
To walk the talk, the occupants decided to cultivate the land: potatoes this summer, cereals and beans today. This is what justifies this name of “Potato Zone”. “This is his vocation“says Cath with a smile.
High-tech and non-polluting industries (Roger Pellenc, the mayor)
Agriculture, the mayor of the city knows a thing or two about it. Roger Pellenc is at the head of a company with a worldwide reputation in the robotization of harvests, he defends the extension of the zone: “It is feared that the Pellenc company must recover 30 hectares, we need to develop ourselves, it is good for employment throughout the Pertuis catchment area. This project has been planned since the origins of Iter in Cadarache. I tell these opponents that the Durance plain covers a total of 1600 hectares, and thatthere are hardly any more farmers. 500 hectares are abandoned. That these people find farmers who want to settle down, we will find them land“.
And Roger Pellenc reassured its inhabitants: “_everything will be built according to the rules of town planning, industries will be high-tech and non-polluting”.
The Etablissement Public Foncier de Paca acquired the land, 5 million euros have been invested to make this area non-floodable by building dikes. What does it matter! the opponents answer: “_on will stay as long as the project is not withdrawn,” warns one of them. The showdown is well and truly underway.