On the A69 construction site, the ZAD no longer exists. But opponents of the project remain mobilized. A bill carried by the deputy for Haute-Garonne, Anne Stambach-Terrenoir will be presented on November 28 by LFI-NFP as part of its parliamentary niche. If it is adopted by the National Assembly it could suspend the construction of the A69 Toulouse-Castres.
The Zad du Verger, the last shield of resistance on the A69 construction site, no longer exists. The last “squirrels” were expelled on October 7. But the opposition is still strong, the last appeal on the merits of the project is planned for the end of 2024 before the Toulouse administrative court.
As part of its parliamentary niche, on November 28, the FI-NFP parliamentary group will propose a law aimed at establishing a moratorium on road and highway projects. The deputy for Haute Garonne, Anne Stambach-Terrenoir, will be the rapporteur for this proposal. The A69 Toulouse-Castres project is one of the projects that could be suspended if this bill is adopted by the National Assembly.
In France, there are around fifty contested projects such as that of the A69. Today, explains the parliamentarian“if they were abandoned it would recover 18 billion euros”.
During her speech at the press conference of the LFI-NFP parliamentary group, held this Thursday, October 10, MP Anne Stambach-Terrenoir recalled “that it is urgent that France escapes from this all-road, outdated and dangerous model and enters the area of necessary ecological bifurcation.”
As part of her parliamentary slot on Thursday November 28, the MP will wear a bill aimed at establishing a moratorium for projects to create motorways and two-lane roads for a period of ten years, “the time to reconsider the ecological merits of these projects and to study the alternatives”.
For the chosen one it is about “anachronistic projects” mostly thought up 20 to 30 years ago. “The most emblematic currently being the highly contested A69 project, near my constituency. A project which literally aims to run alongside an existing national road which could be developed. A project that would destroy 400 hectares of agricultural land and natural spaces, including 13 hectares of woods and 22 hectares of wetlands. All this to save a few minutes!”
NGE-Atosca is preparing to force the State to grant an extension of €30 million for an A69 which is turning into a fiasco (1 year late), a moratorium on road projects would make it possible to recover €18 billion and working for the climate, fertile lands and biodiversity… https://t.co/h046tEE3Y1
— The Way Is Free (@LaVoieEstLibre_) October 10, 2024
Anne Stambach-Terrenoir also highlights the impact of these projects on the environment and the health of local residents. “These projects will increase traffic. This means more pollution, more CO2 emissions. We find ourselves today at a time when France has once again experienced extraordinary bad weather in recent days(…). Everyone sees that it is absolutely urgent to make other choices, these projects are no longer of major general interest, the alternatives are not studied enough.”
In the same way regarding the A69 Toulouse-Castres project, there are appeals on the merits. For the MP, “it is urgent to decide on a moratorium. It is one of the emergency measures of the NFP government’s program”