Relations between France and Amazon are decidedly complicated. The justice canceled the environmental authorization granted to a parcel sorting center project of the American home delivery giant, in Fournès, in the Gard.
The administrative court of Nîmes does not recognize “Major public interest” of the project which provides for the construction of a 38,800 m² building on 13.7 hectares of land, near the A9 motorway, a major axis to Spain.
This decision comes within the framework of a request requesting the annulment of a prefectural decree of November 2019 granting an environmental authorization to the project of the company Argan, specializing in the construction of logistics bases, mainly for the needs of Amazon.
“The cancellation of the environmental authorization is an obstacle to the implementation of the building permit”, specifies the court, in a press release published Tuesday, November 9, adding that it would “To pronounce very soon on the seven requests of which it was seized and contesting the building permit”.
This setback for Amazon comes two weeks after the abandonment of a logistics center project of the group near Nantes, in Montbert (Loire-Atlantique) due to delays due to “The accumulation of technical and legal constraints”.
A project that divides elected officials and inhabitants of the region
The construction of this enormous sorting center, where more than 500 trucks would run per day near the Pont du Gard, a world heritage gem, has deeply divided elected officials and inhabitants of this tourist region for several years.
In the case of this project “Likely to affect the conservation of protected animal or plant species”, the court ruled that “Despite the probable creation of 600 full-time equivalent jobs and the economic benefits (…) this did not meet an imperative reason of major interest, a concept very strictly assessed by the case law of the Council of State”.
A “Great victory for the mobilization “Stop Amazon” “, reacted to Agence France-Presse (AFP) the spokesperson for Attac France, Raphaël Pradeau, welcoming the “Strong resistance from residents, farmers, traders, anti-globalization activists, environmentalists” everywhere in France against Amazon, but still saying to stay “Vigilant” as for the other projects of the multinational.
Several environmental associations including Adere (association for the development of employment while respecting the environment), applicants, also welcomed the court’s decision in a press release. They are fighting against a “Establishment which would distort three major sites, classified as World Heritage by Unesco – Pont du Gard site, Gardon gorges biosphere zone, Heritage of dry stone know-how ».