Paris: Lafarge will be able to build its concrete plant quai de Javel
A victory for one, a bitter pill for the other… The cement manufacturer Lafarge, one of whose subcontractors had been caught in the act in November 2020, pouring concrete into the Seine, in the heart of Paris, obtained the famous sesame: the building permit for its new concrete plant, quai de Javel (15th century), on its industrial site, not far from the Eiffel Tower and opposite apartment buildings.
Three years of struggle lost by local residents
As arguments, the cement manufacturer put forward better working conditions and yields: the concrete contained in a mixer truck has a limited lifespan of one and a half hours. After this time, it hardens and becomes unusable. Hence the interest of being in the center of Paris to supply concrete to the sites deployed in the capital.
On the local residents’ side, it’s discouragement. “It’s three years of fighting and relentless struggle for nothing! », Laments Maryse Fourcade, who was one of the leaders of the revolt of the residents, vice-president of the Association residents of the Port of Javel (XVth). Maryse Fourcade denounces “a polluting project at a time of climate emergency and an immoral story”. The collective had obtained the support of elected officials, from both right and left, including Philippe Goujon, the mayor (LR) of the 15th century, Agnès Evren, European deputy (LR) and the ecologist David Belliard, deputy (EELV) of Anne Hidalgo (PS), responsible for the transformation of public space. The elected officials had submitted wishes to the Council of Paris to stop the project. Deliberation was to follow. “And then nothing, bitter breath Maryse Fourcade. They left us in the open countryside. »
Lafarge promises to be exemplary
Residents also tackle the City of Paris, which issued the permit. The town hall was however angry with the cement manufacturer and had even seized the public prosecutor during the pollution episode in the Seine, Anne Hidalgo denouncing a “real ecological scandal”. In 2016, the cement manufacturer was also out of favor with the City and priced to keep its planned sand at Paris Plage. Lafarge, deployed in Syria, was then suspected of having links with terrorist groups linked to Daesh and indicted for “financing a terrorist enterprise”.
This Wednesday evening, Lafarge evoked a new area and a peaceful situation on the port of Javel. Work should begin within a few weeks. “We listened to local residents, insists his spokesperson. The plant is smaller than expected. There will be no reversing of the trucks. Production capacity has been reduced by a third. Local residents even chose the color of the silos! We have succeeded in proving that we can have a small industrial unit in an urban environment”. And to promote: “We will be exemplary”.