VILLENEUVE-LEZ-AVIGNON Swimming pool and water bills create houses for the municipal council
“Madame Bories …“The serious and theatrical tone of the opponent Morgan Buisson was back during the city council of Thursday evening. And this, from the beginning of the session, always with the same fad: why the municipality does not film and does not broadcast the council municipal on the Internet? For three sessions, the Villeneuve Social, ecological and united group has been doing it with the means at hand. Morgan Buisson boasted of having totaled 448 views the last time, or 20% increase. one iota the position of Pascale Bories.
After this sporting start, although a little redundant, the session knows a certain calm. The elected officials even had the surprise visit of Santa Claus who wished everyone much happiness. Enough to relax the atmosphere until the 12th deliberation. Discussions were livened up when it came to the 2020 activity reports of the various inter-municipal structures to which Villeneuve belongs. In the eyes of the opponent Florent Lemont (Citizen Union), who describes himself as “a man of relationships“, some documents are not up to par, in particular the one for the protection of the Villeneuve massifs and the Jean-Vilar high school:”To suggest that is unacceptable. “
Morgan Buisson was interested in the report dealing with the Camille-Muffat inter-municipal swimming pool. “€ 52,125, c‘is the expenditure linked only to electricity, to which we can add the 46,240 € of heating. In total, this expense item therefore represents pmore than 15% of the total annual cost of the infrastructure. It is a real abyss!“, he thunders, reproaching the mayor for not finding a solution to reduce the energy balance.
Solar panels, geothermal energy, insulation … What about?
The mayor explains to him that several options have already been studied, without proving feasible in the field. Solar panels ? Impossible for questions of covisibility with the Palace of the Popes and Fort Saint-André, and what is more, in a protected area. Geothermal energy? No more, dixit the design office commissioned during the confinement. “We do not despair with the technological evolution of photovoltaic panels for a better landscape integration …“says Pascale Bories.
The main purpose of the work carried out ten years ago was to repair the swimming pools, in particular the leaks in the outdoor pool. “And nothing has been done for isolation, despite proposals not coming from the majority“, criticizes Florent Lemont.”The isolation on the swimming pool is complicated because of chlorine fumes and other technical constraints. It’s not as easy as on a house“, retorts the first magistrate, provoking the annoyance of Morgan Buisson seeing no way out in this flood of justifications.
On the heritage side, elected officials voted unanimously to request a subsidy from the Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (DRAC) Occitanie, to rehabilitate the Chapel of the Gray Penitents. Built in the middle of the 18th century, this baroque architectural treasure has a few cracks in its structures and capillaries that seek a health diagnosis. The latter is estimated at € 13,990, and the municipality will request a 50% subsidy from the DRAC, or € 6,995.
Water bills of 19m3: a “relentlessness of accusations totally exaggerated”
Then came the time for oral questions, in particular on the vaccination of the elderly or on public transport. Geneviève Lepage (Villeneuve Sociale, ecological et solidaire) also brought up the Suez affair and the water bills. A case in which the prefect of Vaucluse is also involved, who has sent several letters implicating the delegatee. In particular on the uniform amount invoiced to users, modeled on average French consumption, risking “subscriber file“. Geneviève Lepage asks what follow-up Grand Avignon will give to these observations by the prefect and to the questions of users.
Xavier Belleville, 1st assistant villeneuvois and 3rd vice-president at Grand Avignon, sees in these remarks from the opposition a “fiercely exaggerated accusations“more than a defense of the general interest:”The interest for our territory is to have significant investments in our sanitation network to avoid wastewater discharges in the natural environment, for example. The interest is also to have the price of water within a reasonable range, below the national average here in this case.“Xavier Belleville insists that for more than 97% of users,”everything is going well“, speaking over the outraged exclamations of the opposition. Between the swimming pool and water and sanitation, this last municipal council of the year will have known some waves …
Marie Meunier
And also … Mobility. A first cycle route of 450 m was carried out between the Kingdom Bridge and the old Aramon road, and completes the Via Rhôna Euro-cycle route. Secondly, another 1,100m route will be built between Via Rhôna and Villeneuve town center. It will be carried out during the 2022-2023 fiscal year and will pass through the towpath. It can be used by cycle tourists but also by cyclists. Soon, the municipality will ask ADEME to finance up to 50% of the project management studies.
Habitat. As we know, the town of Villeneuve-lez-Avignon is lacking in social housing, which means it has to pay penalties each year. To catch up, the municipality favors real estate projects including social housing as much as possible. This is why it will grant a subsidy of € 64,000 to Grand Delta Habitat for the construction of 48 social rental housing at 35, avenue Général Leclerc, in addition to the aid from Grand Avignon. But also an exceptional subsidy of 45,000 € because the lessor has undertaken to create additional parking spaces.