« This time we’ll make it“, assures Joël Guin at the end of the presentation of the territorial pole of the large living area of Avignon. Seven intercommunalities of Vaucluse and Gard want to unite by creating this tool of cooperation. Objectives: to enhance the attractiveness of the territory and implement joint projects, going beyond the administrative boundaries of the EPCIs (public establishments for inter-municipal cooperation).
This is not the first such attempt. But none succeeded. Some remember the famous “Nîmes-Arles-Avignon golden triangle” which was to extend from the Cévennes to the Luberon and from the Camargue to Montélimar and the Ardèche. This time, we change scale and reduce the sails to the large living area of Avignon. ” We’ve been talking about amalgamation for some time. To weigh more, it is preferable to be more important than the average. After a few meetings, we agreed on the creation of a territorial pole“, contextualizes Christian Gros, president of the Community of Vaucluse communes of Sorgues du Comtat.
He and six other presidents of intermunicipalities have decided to meet to ” to carry a collective vision but respectful of the identities of each one »: Joël Guin (Greater Avignon conurbation), Gérard Daudet (Luberon Monts de Vaucluse conurbation), Jacqueline Bouyac (Ventoux Comtat Venaissin conurbation), Pierre Gonzalvez (Community of communes of Pays des Sorgues Mont de Vaucluse), Pierre Prat ( Community of communes of Pont du Gard) and Jean-Christian Rey (agglomeration of Gard Rhône). All these territories represent 505,000 inhabitants. Other Vaucluse intermunicipalities could be added but are still waiting to see how the project will evolve.
“If we’re here, it’s because we want to work. We are not going to stay watching the trains”
« It is a space for consultation, reflection but it is not an additional layer“, assures Joël Guin. If the administrative structure of a metropolitan center wants to be flexible and tailor-made
, the subjects addressed by elected officials are often complex. Four priority themes have been identified: converging mobility policies, articulating development and spatial planning guidelines, coordinating waste management policies and defining a common vision of flood risk prevention. Regarding mobility, the idea is to converge the transport networks of each territory in a smarter way, with consistent timetables. Even if it means extending certain lines in the interest of the inhabitants. Waste collection and treatment is also a hot topic today, as costs soar. “The longer it goes, the more it will cost. For the moment, local authorities are absorbing this additional cost, but it may affect the taxpayer. “, comments Gérard Daudet. “We have to federate. For example, we have the SMICTOM union in Grand Avignon and some municipalities of the CCPG, it must be expanded to weigh against the large groups opposite.
«, Rebondit Joël Guin. To fuel their reflections, the seven presidents of EPCI will be able to rely on the expertise of 15 technicians from AURAV (Rhône Avignon Vaucluse urban planning agency). It remains for each departing intercommunity to deliberate at the start of the school year to adopt the statutes and formalize this territorial pole. It will also be necessary to consult the two prefects, who will issue a creation decree. But Christian Gros is confident: “ If we’re here, it’s because we want to work. We’re not going to stay watching the trains.
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Mary Meunier
-The metropolitan pole will take the form of a mixed syndicate. There are about twenty of them in France.
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