Several elected officials of Loiret called Thursday the State to "take its responsibilities" in the face of the nuisances suffered by the residents of an annual gathering of some 40,000 travellers of an evangelical association in Nevoy (Loiret), on a land that usually hosts half.
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Before Covid, we had between 15,000 and 20,000 pilgrims. (...) 40,000 creates a lot of nuisances. We are not equipped to receive so many people. The population is exasperated, there will be a tragedy one day, "said the mayor DVC of Gien, near Nevoy, Francis Cammal.
'Total Anarchy'
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It is total anarchy, "regretted the elected official, evoking wild connections to the water and electricity networks, as well as participants doing their needs in the paths, green spaces and private land of the agglomeration. The annual gathering of the evangelical association Life and Light is to be held until Sunday. "People don't understand that we let it happen, but we don't have the hand. The State must assume its responsibilities to reduce the number of participants. 40,000 is not manageable," he told AFP.
On Tuesday, this situation almost degenerated, according to Francis Cammal: an octogenarian was arrested after firing in the air in the direction of a group of travellers entering his land to do their business, he said. "Do not wait for a drama before acting," asked the State the RN deputy of Loiret Mathilde Paris. "What comes back is the droppings. (...) If it weren't for that, I think it would pass," she told AFP. "Gien has 13,000 inhabitants: 40,000 people who disembark at once, the city is not able to absorb," says the elected official, also asking the State to establish a gauge in the future.
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On the side of Life and Light, Joseph Charpentier described a much less gloomy situation. "It is certain that whatever the nature of the pilgrims, 40,000 participants in a small rural town, it creates discomfort. (...) The Giennois is not on fire and blood either. There are 250 gendarmes present. It's not organized anarchically," he said.
Regarding the sanitary aspect, the pastor explained that he had installed a hundred toilets on the land belonging to the association. "I have a team of 12 people listening to mayors and residents, who will clean up on demand when land is soiled," he insisted.
