more than 4,000 demonstrators in Villeneuve-de-la-Raho to denounce a golf project

Around twenty environmental associations have called for demonstrations on Saturday against a future golf project on 180 hectares. The Pyrénées-Orientales have been going through the worst drought in their history for two years.

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4,000 people gathered at midday on Saturday March 16 in Villeneuve-de-la-Raho to protest against a golf project.  (Clothilde Jupon / RADIO FRANCE)

More than 4,000 people gathered at the end of the morning, Saturday December 16, against the Villeneuve-de-la-Raho golf project (Pyrénées-Orientales) at the call of around twenty environmental associations and parties environmentalists, reports France Bleu Roussillon.

Protesters gathered at the site of the future complex. There were 4,000 of them, according to the gendarmes, 4,500 according to the organizers, who expected a thousand. The gendarmes were positioned at each entry point into the city.

The organizers expected a thousand demonstrators in Villeneuve-de-la-Raho, there were four times as many on Saturday December 16.  (Clothilde Jupon / RADIO FRANCE)

The golf course is to be built on 180 hectares, with a clubhouse, a hotel and 600 accommodations. The first work began at the end of 2023 and aroused the anger of environmental associations, who recall that the Pyrénées-Orientales have been going through the worst drought in their history for two years.

The project is supported by local economic players such as the CCI, Medef, Fnaim, BTP and Umih 66. The mayor of Villeneuve-de-la-Raho, Jacqueline Irles, who has been leading this project for more than twenty years , assured Friday on France Bleu Roussillon that the golf course will be watered “100% thanks to water from the treatment plant”.


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