The police evacuated on Tuesday January 11 in Rouen the squatters of a former student home for the needs of a real estate project that the elected environmentalists wish to prevent, AFP learned Tuesday from corroborating sources. “About fifteen people slept there. There was at least one family with two small children. Those expelled were either precarious without stable housing or asylum seekers awaiting papers“, Said lawyer Chloé Chalot, who defends the occupiers, to an AFP correspondent.
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The police confirmed to AFP the evacuation of the place. “The eviction took place in peace, it became tense once outside the building with the use of tear gas», Added Me Chalot. Eight people, including two expelled, were taken into custody before being released at the end of the day with a reminder of the law, according to the lawyer.
In support of the expelled, about fifty sympathizers took over the town hall of Rouen in the early evening, the mayor’s office told AFP. “They are currently in the city council chamber. They are asking for the rehousing of those evicted, in particular two families. One of them has already been relocated by the city this afternoon. A conciliation is conducted by two elected officials with a view to rehousing families as a priority.“, Specified the cabinet, which asks the occupants to leave the premises.
“Serious danger to people”
On December 17, the Rouen Court of Appeal ordered the eviction of any occupant from January 10. The EELV-Rouen group, member of the municipal majority, denounced in a press release “unworthy expulsion“Of”families who had found refuge during this winter break“In this place called”the Happy Gardens“. “The police force carried out the expulsion without care (…) Since June, however, this place has been living with the idea of creating an alternative project to the concreteization and destruction of heritage“, Continues the press release. Asked by AFP, the vice-president of the metropolis expressed his “anger“. For his part, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, PS president of the metropolis and mayor of Rouen, did not wish to react.
According to the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the owners of the premises, the French real estate company and Sedelka, “demonstrate“They”present a serious danger to people“, Several buildings of the place”threatening ruin“. According to a building permit dated October 2019, Sedelka plans to build 97 housing units and rehabilitate 27 others. EELV accuses the promoter of “prepare to destroy without batting an eyelid a heritage gem by condemning the magnificent gardenOf the old home.