Some 270 people gathered this Saturday, January 14 in Privas, Ardèche, to protest against the controversial construction of a basilica in Saint-Pierre-de-Colombier, according to figures from the prefecture of the department.
The demonstrators, carrying flags of trade unions and accompanied by a brass band, gathered in the early afternoon in a calm atmosphere in front of the building of the prefecture, with several speeches by officials.
The objective of the demonstration, according to the organizers, is to denounce the resumption in "
opacity
" of the "
excessive
" construction site of the church of Notre Dame des Neiges, launched in 2018 then suspended in October 2020 following a prefectural decree. pending an environmental study.
This decree was in turn repealed in November 2022, paving the way for the resumption of work.
Basilica planned for 3500 people
The project, born on the initiative of a Catholic community created in the village after the Second World War, the Missionary Family of Notre-Dame, provides for the construction in this village of 400 inhabitants of a basilica that can accommodate 3,500 people, as well as as various facilities and annexes allowing the reception of pilgrims.
Since 2020, it has come up against opposition from the Regional Natural Park (PNR) of the Monts d'Ardèche, in which it is located.
The Natural Park reaffirmed on January 5, after a meeting with the prefect of Ardèche Thierry Devimeux, that it remained "
unfavorable to this project with regard to the non-respect of (its) charter
".
He is also asking for the project's four-season environmental study to be sent to him.
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The congregation, for its part, argues in a press release published on Wednesday that it is a “
private project
” on which the PNR has “
not legally or legally to give its opinion
”.
She also believes that "
concerns related to ecological issues are now lifted
" after the conduct of the environmental study.