By canceling an environmental authorization, justice compromises the implementation of the building permit of a logistical center provided for the US giant, in Fourès, in the Gard. Seven other requests were formulated against the project.
Le Monde with AFP
The relations between France and Amazon are decidedly complicated. Justice announced, Tuesday, November 9, annulled the environmental authority granted to a US Home Delivery Package Sort Center project in the Gard.
The administrative tribunal of Nîmes does not recognize “the major public interest” of the project, which provides for the construction of a building of 38,800 m² on a plot of 13.7 hectares near the A9 motorway, axis important to Spain.
This decision intervenes in the context of a request for the annulment of a prefectural decree of November 2019 granting an environmental authorization to the project of ARGAN, specializing in the construction of logistics bases, mainly for the needs of Amazon.
“The cancellation of the environmental authorization hinders the implementation of the building permit”, specifies the court, in a statement published on Tuesday, adding that it would “pronounce very soon on the seven requests It has been seized and contesting the building permit “.
This setback for Amazon occurs two weeks after the abandonment of a group logistics center project near Nantes, Montbert (Loire-Atlantique), due to delays due to “the accumulation of technical and legal constraints “.
A project that divides elected and inhabitants of the region
The construction of this huge sorting center, where more than 500 trucks would be turning near the Gard Bridge, World Heritage Joyau, divides deeply for several elected years and inhabitants of this tourist region.
In the case of this project “likely to affect the conservation of protected animal or plant species”, the court found that “despite the probable creation of 600 full-time equivalent jobs and the economic benefits (…), the one -I did not respond to a mandatory reason of major interest, very strictly appreciated by the case law of the Council of State “.
A “Great Victory for Mobilization” Stop Amazon “”, reacted to the France-Presse agency (AFP) The spokesman for Attac France, Raphaël Pradeau, welcoming the “strong resistance of the Share of residents, farmers, traders, altermondialists, ecologists “everywhere in France against Amazon, but however, saying however remain” vigilant “as to the other projects of the multinational.
Many environmental associations, including the ADERE (association for the development of employment in respect of the environment), applicants, have also welcomed the court’s decision in a statement. They fight against an “implantation that would distort three major sites, classified as UNESCO World Heritage, including the Gard Bridge.