Toulouse. Gens du voyage: the revolt of the residents of the Zénith
Installed since November 2021 in the parking lot of the Zenith of Toulouse, an illicit occupation of travelers annoys some of the residents.
Last Christmas Eve, a gunshot shattered the silence in the neighborhood. According to several residents, a quarrel between Travelers from the illicit Zenith camp has degenerated. Alerted by several phone calls, the police arrived on the scene a few minutes later. Quickly, the situation turns to confrontation. Tear gas canisters are used by the police. “That evening, I was really scared, remembers a local resident. I watched the scene from my balcony”.
If this event marked the spirits of the inhabitants, it had already been several weeks since the worm was in the apple. When they settled last November, the Travelers were “only a few dozen”, according to local residents. As the weeks went by, their number increased. Nuisances too. “There is always noise. There is music morning noon and evening. Repeated barbecues are problematic. The smell enters our homes”, supports a resident.
In the middle of the camp, Jennot, in his sixties, defends himself: “People have never tolerated Travelers.” “We are used to having this kind of remarks. We are the victim of clichés that persist. For the majority of people, gypsies are still frowned upon,” he adds.
“No one came to complain”
Next to him, another member of the camp slips that “nobody came to complain”. “It’s true, I didn’t dare. However, I’m sure we can talk,” whispers a local resident. At the Zenith, many petitions from local residents who are overwhelmed by the nuisances emitted by the occupation are circulating. Some even arrived on the desk of the district mayor, Bertrand Serp. “I understand the inhabitants. We do our best so that the occupants parent”, assures the elected official.
Time expired
However, the camp has been under an evacuation procedure since the beginning of its installation. Last January, the justice granted a delay to this illegal occupation, on the grounds that it did not prevent the holding of the events of the Zenith. Problem, the deadline to leave the premises was March 15. “We are going to leave, says Jeannot. We are looking for an area. But either their location is unworthy or they are not large enough”.
The services of the town hall had however offered travelers an area, where, according to Bertrand Serp, “all the criteria were met”.
For several years, illegal occupations have continued in the Zénith car park. The City is working on a lasting solution to secure the place. “We had put concrete blocks to obstruct the entrance this year but that was not enough”, slips the district mayor. Among the avenues studied to find the solution, the Capitol is considering transforming the car park into a green zone.