The 126 plane trees along the RN113 near Aigues-Vives will not be cut down! It is by mail that the prefecture of Gard has just informed the association TREES-Guardians of the Shade (Association Responsible for Well-being and Respect for the Environment in Nîmes-Métropole) for the abandonment of this felling project, subject to a decree of July 27, 2020.
On the side of the association, we explain: “This letter is the response to our written and telephone inquiries to the services of Madam the Prefect, while the possible period of slaughter, September 1 – mid November, was approaching. Indeed, the dialogue announced by Prefect Lauga (who left office on March 8, editor’s note) at Jacky Rey Mayor of Aigues-Vives, confirmed by his representative during the hearing of October 14, 2020 of the interim suspension introduced by Mr. Rey, never took place and the elected officials as well as the associations were legitimately concerned. ”
Maximum speed “Will be limited to 70 km / h”
The new prefect, Marie-Francoise Lecaillon, specifies that “The Interdepartmental Directorate of Mediterranean Roads sought a new alternative solution to the felling of these trees…”
And the latter “Consists of the installation of a rigid retaining device at the level of the plane trees which is accompanied by a reduction in the width of the lanes used in order to respect the operating width of this type of device while offering users a recovery area.” To further strengthen the safety of this section, specifies the prefect of Gard, “The maximum authorized speed will be limited to 70 km / h.”
The association is naturally delighted with this news; And specifies: “We note that the choice of speed limit on this part corresponds to our requests (…) We thank the personalities
having, from October 2020, publicly expressed their emotion and opposition to the announcement of these felling and once again express our determination to preserve the tree heritage of Nîmes and Gard. ” Reference to the Environment Code and
“Cultural Heritage” And also recalls that, according to Article L350-3 of the Environment Code: “ The alleys of trees and rows of trees that line the communication routes constitute a cultural heritage and a source of amenities, in addition to their role in the preservation of biodiversity and, as such, are protectedspecific . They are protected, thus calling for conservation, namely their maintenance and renewal, and specific enhancement… ”(full text HERE
)Something to celebrate for this collective
, born of a citizen mobilization, in 2011 in Nîmes, to fight against the felling of hundred-year-old trees. So, whether or not to cut down the trees that line the roads? The debate has never stopped, without getting a clear answer. It must be admitted, however, that it is hard to imagine the southern roads deprived of these giants who provide shade and freshness to summer travelers …
In the Gers, an association committed to the defense of roadside trees the “fight” for trees on the side of the roads has also been supported for many years by an association born in the Gers: L’Association for the Protection of Trees along the Roads s (called“Trees and Roads” ) highlights on its site: “The rows of trees along roads and streets are one of the emblems of France, a heritage whose origin goes back further than the French Revolution, a major element of the French landscape. Unfortunately, many of these trees have been or are being cut down and the renewal of plantations is not up to the task
issues.” And the Asppar to explain on his site:
“In the Gers, while we were cutting down 20,000 trees, we went from a severity (number of fatalities per 100 accidents) of around 12 in the 90s to a severity of 20 in 2002. This is not the case. is that from the national change in road safety policy, focused on changing the behavior of drivers and the fight against speeding that the severity has decreased, reaching 8.6 in 2005. ”
“The protection of trees planted along the roads (…) is essential” “France is not made only to allow the French to circulate by car, and, however serious the problems of road safety, this must not result in disfiguring its landscape. Safeguarding trees planted along roadsides – and I am thinking in particular ofmagnificent roads of the Midi lined with plane trees – is essential for the beauty of our country, for the protection of nature, for the safeguard of a human environment ” wrote already, in 1970 the president Georges Pompidouto its Prime Minister, Jacques Chaban-Delmas ( unequal text on the site of L’Obs withRue89
).
Philippe MOURET Thomas Brail du National Tree Rescue Group, actor Bruno Solo, Georges Fetterman, association A.R.B.R.E.S remarquables, Allain Bougrain-Dubourg,
Bird protection league . For further (a different opinion):
https://www.securite-routiere-plus.com/pages/les-arbres-en-bord-de-route.htmlWith the site Nature’s path
