In Laudun-l’Ardoise, a Gard town of 6,000 inhabitants located on the banks of the Rhône and accustomed to the onslaught of the Mistral, the wind of anger rumbles. Distribution of leaflets, circulation of a petition… In recent days, mobilization has grown against the project of a Gifi logistics platform in the hamlet of L’Ardoise, where 1,000 people live.
The brand specializing in home furnishings plans to move to the former site of the ArcelorMittal factory, which has been inactive for eighteen years. An industrial wasteland where the leader in decoration (1,000 stores in France) could develop, by 2024, buildings on 120,000 square meters. This would allow the employment of 250 to 500 people depending on the peaks of activity, according to Philippe Desmas, the agent of the Philippe Ginestet Group (the founder of the brand), who came to present the project to local elected officials in March. The signing of the sales agreement between Gifi and the public land establishment must take place on Wednesday, November 9.
On the spot, the Defense Committee of the hamlet of L’Ardoise has been increasing, for eighteen months, the letters to local elected officials and to the management of Gifi. The president, Dominique Griotto, hopes to roll back the file: “This project is not welcome here”repeats this inhabitant, who denounces “a real madness”. “This installation would generate the passage of 250 trucks between 7 a.m. and noon, i.e. 500 round trips, a few meters from our schools and our homes! »
“This project will improve an abandoned wasteland”
On several occasions, a few dozen residents have mobilized to say no to the sign with the red logo. In its petition, the committee is also concerned about ultrafine particle (UFP) pollution, the risk of accidents, noise and the loss of property value of waterfront homes. Monday, November 7, the committee, whose petition reaches 250 signatures, has planned to take action once again with the distribution of leaflets. Contacted by The worldthe management of Gifi did not respond.
In April 2021, the agglomeration community of Gard Rhodanien, on which the municipality of Laudun-l’Ardoise depends, came out in favor of this project, without obtaining any real support (44 abstentions, including the socialist president, Jean- Christian Rey, out of 73 elected). But the (unlabeled) mayor of Laudun-l’Ardoise, Yves Cazorla, is convinced: “One of our main concerns is employment. We have needs on our territory for jobs with few qualifications, and Gifi meets this expectation. Opponents raise nuisances that we hear and to which we try to provide answers. »
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