This Thursday evening, the municipal council of Villeneuve-lez-Avignon was held. Sixteen deliberations rather than techniques were on the agenda, heralding a meeting with perhaps less debate. It was without counting the interventions of a very talkative and incisive opposition from the first minutes …

Because of the health context, the municipal councils were closed to the public for a while. As a pledge of citizen participation and transparency, many communities are starting to film and share the sessions on social networks. This is not the case in Villeneuve, so the opposition group “Social, ecological and united” decided to film themselves since the last council. He implies that by not retransmitting, the majority does “denial of democracy“.

The tone is set … The mayor, Pascale Bories, calmly reiterated that all residents are invited today to attend the municipal council. She also advances the argument of “digital sobriety“to save energy by filming for hours.

There is water in the gas …

The deliberation concerning the 2020 activity reports on the drinking water supply, collective sanitation (Grand Avignon) and the distribution of natural gas will occupy a large part of the debates. Florent Lemont (Citizen Union) questioned the clarity and accuracy of these reports and deplored the lack of knowledge of the mapping of water networks. Morgan Buisson brought up the subject of the change of delegatee for the water and sanitation service since January 1 and the sending of non-corresponding invoices, also called by the Water Collective. He then went through a whole bunch of technical points that we will go through here …

Xavier Belleville, 1st deputy and also 3rd vice-president at Grand Avignon, deplores this series of questions and rather invites the opponent to come to committee to obtain his answers. Regarding the report, he acknowledges “that there are satisfying things, others to improve“. It can be noted that the efficiency of the water network has increased and peaks at 72%. This is above the Grenelle ratios,”what makes Villeneuve one of the best students“, Points out Xavier Belleville. The latter also affirms that each time the delegatee responds to users’ questions.

He noted that the price of water has generally increased in the town “to meet great ambitions on water and sanitation“. For example, Grand Avignon and the delegate are involved in the reprocessing of sludge from wastewater in methanization:”Going towards energy autonomy comes at a cost», Recalls Pascale Bories. The price of water still remains at € 2.95 / L in 2021 against € 3.88 / L on average nationally.

Madeleine-Bres will soon have its roundabout

On the other hand, the opposition triggered the denomination of a crossroads with the name of a woman. The roundabout serving the impasse Bouvet, avenue Rheinbach and the shops of the ZAC de la Combe will be called “Madeleine-Bres”. This Gardoise was born on November 25, 1842 in Bouillargues and was the first French woman to obtain a doctorate in medicine in 1875. In 1885, it also financed the creation of a free municipal crèche. Morgan Buisson believes that the feminization of the streets is important especially in Villeneuve, “out of 330 municipal roads, only six bear the name of a woman. “And as Monique Novaretti suggests, the municipality will make a communication to recall the important role of this woman in history.

The name change of the boules pitch has attracted questions. It will be renamed “Passage du Cardinal Jean de La Grange”. first because there is no or no longer a bowling alley at this location. This earned local residents regular explanations to disoriented motorists. Secondly, it is a reference to this cardinal of Avignon, under Gregory XI, who held many goods there.

Plain of the abbey and blue zone in debate

The municipal council ended with two oral questions from the Villeneuve Social, ecological and solidarity group. A portrait on the plain of the Abbey and the flight of young farmers “who do not know how to make a living from their activity “. Blandine Arnaud, Deputy Advisor for Food, claims the realization of several actions, in particular authorizing producers to install small technical rooms for “store their equipment and sell their production on site“. Very soon On December 7, the town hall will also sign an agreement with the El Manantial association to occupy a municipal plot in permaculture, with an educational aim.

The last question concerned the installation of parking in the blue zone at Place Charles-David and in the Chartreuse car park. Anne Daniel (Villeneuve Social, ecological and united) list “a real puzzle“for residents, traders”verbalize that is done“… Xavier Belleville replied that an important communication had been made upstream. And that”this measure is intended to free up places in the city center and allow everyone to shop in local shops by limiting suction cups.“Added to this is the completely free parking in Villeneuve, which is an exception.

Marie Meunier

And also… Fill in the gaps. The municipality of Villeneuve-lez-Avignon will pay a subsidy of € 24,000 to SFHE-Arcade to build 16 social rental housing units. This sum will come in addition to the aid for implementation by the Grand Avignon and shows the will of the City to get out of its lack of social housing.

Oh oh oh. The Christmas tree is coming back this year! The children of communal agents will be entitled to a gift drawn from the warmth of the “mayor Christmas”. In total, the city plans to offer € 2,368 in toys and € 1,280 in gift certificates to 91 children.

Patrimony. A partnership agreement will be signed between the mayor and the Saint-André Abbey. The City will also award two grants to help owners restore the roofs and frames of this building, a masterpiece of classical 18th century art. An exceptional envelope of € 7,000 and € 1,200 as a classic subsidy. A precious help that will complement the ongoing patronage campaign.