The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

"We came to say goodbye": the beginning of the destruction of the Signal in Soulac-sur-Mer

2023-02-03T18:55:01.205Z


REPORT - A symbol of coastal erosion and climate change, the Le Signal building is inexorably approaching the shore. The demolition site, which has finally started, should last three weeks.


Le Figaro Bordeaux

To discover

  • Follow all the news of the city of Bordeaux

They are smiling all three, even if it is a little their memories which will disappear under the blows of the diggers.

This Friday, three sisters, Nicole, Colette and Annie, came to witness the beginning of the destruction of the Le Signal building, in Soulac-sur-Mer (Gironde).

The construction site begins almost ten years after the evacuation of the place of all its inhabitants and should last approximately three weeks.

Their father had bought an apartment in this large building on the dune in 1981. Since then, they came there every summer, "

until they told us: take your things and get the hell out of here

", says the three sisters, now aged 92, 81 and 79.

In 2014, after new storms that brought the building dangerously close to the ocean, a danger order was issued: the evacuation of the occupants became mandatory.

They ripped off the gas tanks, so we had no other choice, we left, thinking that we would come back, that a solution would be found.

But the Signal was never to be inhabited again, and a long administrative and legal process began.

Read alsoAround the Garonne, the water war has begun

This Friday, two ministers were present in this seaside resort of less than 3000 inhabitants, rarely so lively in this season.

Christophe Béchu, Minister for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, and Bérangère Couillard, Secretary of State for Ecology and former Member of Parliament for Gironde, both made the trip to start this "

project symbolic

”.

A remarkable official visit, as this building by the sea has become, in spite of itself, the embodiment of the rapidity of climate change.

It's a building built 200 meters from the shore

,” recalls Christophe Béchu.

But the beach is now less than ten meters from this imposing concrete carcass.

Colette, Annie and Nicole have a smile on their face despite everything.

Saying goodbye to this building is a sad thing, but since 2014, they have “gotten used to the idea”.

Jean Cittone / Le Figaro

After its evacuation, the abandoned Signal found itself at the mercy, not of the waves, but of the looters.

For years, the owners then waged a real showdown with the State, to be able to be compensated.

The Council of State decides in 2018 that the fund for the prevention of major natural risks - known as the Barnier fund - cannot be used in this case.

But with the help of local parliamentarians, the file is moving forward.

The former member of the Gironde, Benoît Simian, succeeded in having an amendment to the finance bill voted at the end of 2018 to compensate the owners.

“Two prefects who wet the jersey”

Present this Friday, the former elected official is delighted with the presence of the ministers in Soulac.

I am delighted that we have two members of the government, who are last minute converts

”, he smiles, recalling that Bérangère Couillard was “

the only deputy from Gironde who had not co-signed this amendment

”.

Benoît Simian specifies that the compensation of the inhabitants was a journey strewn with pitfalls, made possible thanks to "

two prefects who wet the jersey

" to "

respect the vote of the parliament

": Didier Lallement and Fabienne Buccio.

Support from state representatives, also testified by Vincent Duprat, former owner of Signal with his wife.

Read also“I leave with the feeling of accomplishment”: the prefect Fabienne Buccio bids farewell to the Gironde

But the sum finally collected will not allow the former inhabitants to recover what they lost.

"

129,000 euros for more than 70m2 with a sea view, if someone finds me another, I'll take it, but not with my feet in the water

", sighs, bitter, Danièle Duprat, present with her husband, her sister and her brother-in-law.

After its evacuation in 2014, an asbestos removal operation took place in 2019. 50 tons of asbestos materials were removed, leaving the building emaciated.

Jean Cittone / Le Figaro

On site this Friday, in addition to the inhabitants of the surroundings, the new prefect of New Aquitaine, Étienne Guyot, and the mayor of the town, Xavier Pintat, son of Jean-François Pintat, former mayor of Soulac, who was in charge when it was decided to build this building on the dune, which was to be the first building of a set of thirteen bars facing the ocean.

“A relief for the Médoc”

Embodying the transpartisan dimension of the issues of coastal erosion, two parliamentarians from the Gironde with radically opposed views made the trip to the site: Grégoire de Fournas, National Rally deputy, and Monique de Marco, environmentalist senator.

The latter says she is encouraged by the comments made by Christophe Béchu since the beginning of the week.

It is the first time that I have heard the minister become aware of the runaway climate

”, specifies the one who hopes that “

the government will understand that there are places where it will be necessary not to

build new EPRs

” , the elected official recalling in particular the flooding of the Gironde nuclear power plant in Blayais in 1999.

Read also Blayais nuclear power plant: an eco-friendly senator votes for an amendment against the EPR2s

The nationalist deputy evokes "

a strong symbol of coastal erosion and the judicial, administrative and political journey undertaken in recent years

", expressing "

a relief for the Médoc to see this building demolished in conditions that have become acceptable to all world and in particular the owners

".

"

We managed to find a solution

", welcomes Christophe Béchu, after having symbolically participated in the first blow of the digger, tearing off a section of the ghostly structure of the building.

"

What is happening today bears witness to the erosion of the coastline, which is increasing due to climate change

", explains the Minister.

975 municipalities are affected by the erosion of the coastline, details the member of the government, on approximately 20% of the 20,000 kilometers of the country's coastline.

The erosion is stronger in Gironde than in the rest of the country

”, he recalls, referring to the “

need to have a very powerful national plan

” in this regard.

Read also“Nature leaves us no choice”: Christophe Béchu presents his anti-drought plan

To deal with this major challenge of combating climate change and its consequences, Secretary of State Bérangère Couillard announced the launch of a one-year consultation with the National Council for the Sea and Coasts, chaired by the Girondin deputy Sophie Panonacle.

The purpose of this exchange will be to assess the needs and identify the projects implemented to fight against the decline of the sideline.

The rise in water is inevitable, so inevitably, we will have to adapt

,” proclaims the minister.

While waiting for concrete measures to be put in place for the other dwellings threatened by the retreat of the coastline on the French coast, the Signal, a pioneer in spite of itself, will therefore soon disappear from the dune.

After three weeks of work, fifteen days will be needed to evacuate the asbestos-free rubble, which will be upgraded for other development work in the city.

The dune environment will then be reconstituted and replanted, explains the mayor of the town.

A belvedere will appear once the dune has reformed.

Almost fifty years after it was erected, the Signal will soon not only be a symbol, but also a memory.

For the occasion, several hundred Soulacais and Bordelais made the trip.

Some have been waiting for this for years.

Jean Cittone / Le Figaro

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2023-02-03

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.