Dordogne bypass protesters hail road demolition order
Protesters fighting a half-built bypass that cuts through a prized natural site are confident that, after a 30-year battle, the road will never be completed.
The site near Beynac in the Dordogne, an area classed as a Unesco biosphere reserve, must be returned to its original state within a year, a Bordeaux appeal court upheld.
Philippe d鈥橢aubonne, President of the Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Vall茅e de la Dordogne, said: 鈥淭his victory will set a precedent.
鈥淧ublic bodies won鈥檛 be able to breach environmental regulations just because they think their project is in the public interest.鈥�
In 2018, Dordogne prefecture gave the go-ahead for the 鈧�32million road, saying it was necessary to avoid congestion in Beynac, one of the 鈥淢ost Beautiful Villages鈥� in France.
Opponents said it was a waste of money, requiring two bridges and a tunnel in a 3.2km stretch, and the village is only congested in summer. They said it was an environmental disaster.
France鈥檚 highest administrative court, the Conseil d鈥橢tat, said there was 鈥渘o imperative public interest鈥� for the cost and environmental impact.
The Bordeaux administrative court ordered the work to be dismantled, a decision now upheld. The department says it will appeal to the Conseil d鈥橢tat.
Its president Germinal Peiro said: 鈥淭he demolition itself will impact the environment and cost 鈧�40million without solving the Beynac issue. One day, someone will die there.鈥�
Mr d鈥橢aubonne said: 鈥淥ur experts say demolition and restoration will cost around 鈧�4million.鈥�
See also: Dordogne bypass must be demolished - appeal court
