“They only think of themselves. They don’t even see that behind there is a football club and children playing and enjoying it”, regret, annoyed, Gabriel, 12 years old. Like him, the inhabitants of Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone were surprised to see the town’s football pitch invested by dozens of caravans this Sunday. A community of Travelers forced the portal to settle there.
“They installed a swimming pool in the middle of the stadium, they ride electric motorcycles on the grass as if it were a cross field”loose Hugo, 13, also dismissed from the Union Sportive Villeneuvoise (USV). “It just doesn’t happen”, says Milan, 13 years old. Yes because the first impacted by this squat is the football club.
“This is not a campsite” — Alexandre Perea Amat, President of the Union Sportive Villeneuvoise
“We will not be able to keep our commitments with other clubs in a tournament. Preparation for next season is also disrupted because there is no pitch and it is impassable now”explains the president of the USV Alexandre Perea Amat. “It’s not a campsite. And even at the campsite, we pay to settle down, we ask for permission”he blurts out again, bitterly.
Several complaints filed
To enter, the door reserved for firefighters was forced, then these travelers connected to the electric generator and the fire hydrant to get water. “The town hall, the metropolis and the water authority have therefore lodged a complaint”announces Véronique Négret, the mayor of Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone. “They cannot stay on public equipment for their simple private use”enrages the city councilor. “The municipal police and the gendarmerie arrived very quickly on the spot but decided to let them in to guarantee safety on the road since a huge traffic jam had formed in town”explains the mayor of the town.
– Bastien Thomas
However, solutions have been proposed. “As of Sunday, the prefecture proposed the Mauguio high-traffic area, but their spokesperson considered that the land was unworthy to accommodate all families.says the mayor of Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone. “We therefore proposed that of Fabrègues which is recent but there too, he considered that it was not worthy”she said again.
For now, the field (this Tuesday, June 14), the field is still occupied. “My services are therefore finalizing an interim order that we will file with the administrative judge to request an expulsion, I hope, before the end of the week”continues Véronique Négret. A hearing is to be held this Thursday, June 16 in the afternoon.