In Paris, the town hall proceeds with the contested removal of the gates from the Square du Bataclan

The photos sent to AFP by members of the “Sauvons Jules et Richard” association, local residents who demanded the maintenance of a closed square to protect it from too intensive use and incivility, show workers dismantling the grids, placed on the ground or against a bench.

The municipal police surround them. On Monday, around thirty of the same opponents of the project succeeded in delaying the start of the work by their presence. They have taken turns since then to preserve these elegant gates from the 1990s which enclose May-Picqueray square.

Located above the canal, covered by a median since the 13th century, this green space houses the stele in tribute to the victims of the attack of November 2015, XNUMX at the Bataclan, located just opposite.

The town hall intends to redevelop the median, an axis almost 2 km long, in order to "find" a large continuous promenade between the Saint-Martin canal and Bastille, on the Jules-Ferry and Richard-Lenoir boulevards, already decorated four squares including May-Picqueray.

Opponents believe that this avenue of promenade already exists and that it is enough to bypass these squares or create additional gates.

The France Nature Environnement Paris association, co-chaired by Yves Contassot, former environmentalist deputy of ex-mayor PS Bertrand Delanoë, filed two summary proceedings. The opponents asked the town hall to wait until the outcome of the hearing, on May 22, to intervene.

PS Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who wants to open several squares in the capital, has already encountered similar controversy in 2023 with the gates of the one adjoining Notre-Dame Cathedral. They will ultimately be maintained, but perhaps moved.

"Let's stop destroying what works well. We're breaking part of what makes up the identity of Paris," lamented opposition MP MoDem Gatel on Thursday during a press briefing ahead of the next Paris Council. .