Le Figaro Marseille
It is a soap opera which started in the summer and which may produce a few more episodes.
Last mid-July, the residents of Saint-Henri, located in the 16th arrondissement of Marseille, were surprised to discover in the press that an
“integration village”
project for a dozen Roma families would set up shop on a wasteland located near the highway that borders their neighborhood.
The “modular”
village project
, the construction of which was once envisaged next to the Cité Font-Vert, provides for the installation of dozens of people from the Roma community on this land which is owned by the State.
These dozen families, most of whom resided in a squat in the 15th arrondissement of the city evacuated in July 2022, were selected on a voluntary basis and will be supported
“for a maximum period of two years”
as part of rehabilitation. of their living environment.
“The ambition of the integration village is to develop a reinforced socio-professional integration area for the benefit of around 80 volunteers who are part of a trajectory of sustainable inclusion in the territory
,” explains the Bouches-du-Prefecture. Rhône, project coordinator, at Le
Figaro
.
An integration village for Roma divides a Marseille district
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A surprise for many residents of Saint-Henri, whose opinions were not surveyed or even solicited before this announcement.
“We learned of the existence of the project via an article in Marsactu published on July 17.
We decided to organize a first public meeting in September with all the stakeholders in the project, including the prefecture and the Marseille town hall
,” recalls Michel Teule, president of the Saint-Henri district interest committee (CIQ).
“A certain number of things emerged from this meeting, during which we proposed the creation of a project monitoring and steering association.
Except that nothing has happened since
,” he says.
Exchanges did take place between the prefecture and the CIQs of Saint Henri and Estaque Gare, neighboring the first, last November.
But local residents' associations regret not having been consulted about the feasibility of the project, the building permit for which was issued by state services on January 2.
“We do not find it normal that local residents were not consulted on this subject.
Whether you are for or against, people are interested in information.
Except that once the project is finalized, there is no more consultation
,” whispers Patrick Robert, president of the CIQ de l’Estaque Gare, to Le
Figaro
.
We do not find it normal that local residents were not consulted on this subject.
Whether you are for or against, people are interested in information.
Except that once the project is finalized, there is no more consultation.
Patrick Robert, president of the Estaque Gare neighborhood interest committee
If many residents welcome the integration project of these families with enthusiasm, a collective having even been set up by local residents to
“think hospitality”
in Saint-Henri, others doubt the relevance of the reception location, partly isolated and located on a poorly maintained wasteland, while some are firmly opposed to its installation, which would contribute to a
“devaluation of the neighborhood”
.
“When we met the prefect responsible for equal opportunities, he told us that many people already had work.
What is the point of reintegration in this case?
, maintains Patrick Robert.
“We were even told that the term “reintegration village” was perhaps no longer appropriate and that we might ultimately have to find another term.
The project is vague
,” he regrets.
Despite everything, the sign announcing the building permit was installed in front of the site on January 11.
The State, through the prefecture, promises local residents that the village is not intended to be a long-term structure.
The date of its opening, scheduled for sometime in 2024, also remains unclear.
“We have no certainty about this project.
Above all, we denounce a lack of courage on the part of the project leader, namely the prefecture and therefore the State
,” criticizes Patrick Robert.