In La Rochelle, 400 protesters against a decontamination site near schools

Some 400 teachers, parents and local residents demonstrated on Friday, September 5 in La Rochelle against a decontamination project at a former Enedis site, which they said was causing nuisance near school buildings, prompting the operator in question to announce the "complete covering" of the site.

Gathered at the call of the private school complex Fénelon-Notre-Dame (2.700 pupils in primary and secondary schools), where teachers denounced suspicious smells, dust and fumes, the demonstrators brandished signs saying "No to construction, no to poisoning", or "breathe here = die".

The school complex's premises adjoin a former Enedis gas plant, the decontamination of which is being carried out by Speed Rehab, a subsidiary of Brownfields Gestion and Vinci Immobilier. The Massiou public elementary school is also located near the site, which is intended to house a residential project.

Philippe Misery, one of the heads of the Fénelon-Notre-Dame facility (350 employees), denounced "total inertia in the situation" and "too many unfulfilled promises from Speed Rehab." "We are no longer in a discussion phase; we are demanding," he declared, calling for total protection of the construction site, including tarpaulin.

A total of 27 teachers and staff members exercised their right to withdraw to demand immediate action. Classes were not held on Friday afternoon. They had already been suspended for three days last November before the prefect suspended the work.

Right of withdrawal

PE teacher Jean-Philippe Oudot, who suffers from headaches and sore throats, says he exercised his right to withdraw to "protect the students." Around fifteen classrooms overlooking the construction site have been closed since the start of the school year.

"We want the construction site to be completely closed off, so that our air is clean enough to come to work," said a science teacher who wished to remain anonymous.

The procession arrived at the Vinci Immobilier agency in La Rochelle on Friday afternoon to meet with the management of Speed Rehab.

"As requested by representatives of the Fénelon educational community, we are committed to providing full coverage of the work areas. Operations began Thursday and will be completed by Sunday evening," the operator assured in a press release.

On Thursday, the prefect of Charente-Maritime, Brice Blondel, issued a formal notice ordering Speed Rehab, within five days, to "secure the site," cover the area with tarpaulins, and carry out "air quality monitoring to ensure that the rehabilitation work does not release fumes that could disturb the neighborhood."

According to the company, this data, shared "since the beginning of the work" with the authorities, will be transmitted "in full and daily to the Fénelon and Massiou schools." "No measurement has revealed any exceedances" of the emission thresholds set by prefectural decree, it assures.

"We understand the concerns of local residents, families and educational communities regarding the olfactory nuisances observed and inherent to this type of construction site," concludes the operator, reaffirming that "health safety remains its absolute priority."