Toulouse: “The black smoke takes us by the throat in our apartments”
The inhabitants of a brand new street in Saint-Martin-du-Touch suffered, on certain evenings, from the smoke of burnt tires even in their apartments.
The acrid smoke grabs your throat and its blackness settles on the windows. The inhabitants of the new residences on rue Françoise-Héritié in the Saint-Martin-du-Touch sector are forced to caulk themselves in the evening. “Around 9:30 p.m., a van parks, describes a retiree who is just recovering from an operation. The first time, I was watching TV and I was taken by the throat. I recognized the smell of burnt tires. It is harmful. From my balcony, I saw large flames and a thick cloud of black smoke.
Aurélie has been living in this same residence for a few months. “I called regularly, I reported but I have the impression that nothing is happening”. Michael is worried. “Everything is smoky. What if the fire escalates? Previously, the balconies of these residents overlooked a wild dump of tires and garbage. “It was a slum,” says the retiree. The town hall had the premises vacated recently. But the troubles continue. And, if the nocturnal lights have appeared recently, Aurélie, working from home, sees them all day long. “I feel helpless” for a long time.
Jean-Jacques Bolzan, the district mayor, is aware of the difficulties. “I have already received them”. He concedes: “The ZAC des Ramassiers must assess. We have to move family by family the hamlet of Fleurance where sedentary Travelers live. We are looking at land. It is in progress but it will succeed, he assures. There are administrative phases. Of course, there is scrapping and burning which leads to calls to Allo Toulouse. We are putting the pressure on, the move will take place as soon as possible”.
In the meantime, this Tuesday evening, the van returned and the inhabitants had to seal themselves at home.