|
IN BRIEF
|
On Sunday, March 30, about thirty families from the traveler community successfully settled on municipal land on Chemin de Dortis in Toulouse. Although concrete blocks had previously been installed by the municipality to prevent access to this site, these travelers managed to bypass these obstacles. This incident raises concerns among local residents and raises questions about safety and the management of public spaces.
An unexpected installation #
The surprise was great within the neighborhood when residents discovered that morning the presence of about thirty caravans on land that appeared to be inaccessible. According to testimonies, members of this community had moved the heavy concrete blocks that were blocking access, which raised questions among locals. “I wonder how they did it,” says Moussa, a local father, lamenting that he can no longer enjoy the sports field. “We were going to play ball with the kids, now it will be impossible.”
À lire the United States issues a travel warning for Pakistan following a drone attack in India
The memory of past installations #
This isn’t the first time that this land, located near Joséphine Baker School, has been the site of illegal installations. Solange, a resident, remembers that travelers had already settled here last autumn before being removed by law enforcement. “There was never any noise, provocation, or children hanging around in the streets,” she insists, reinforcing the idea that cohabitation can occur without disturbances.
An overview of interactions in the neighborhood #
Local residents seem somewhat divided regarding the impact of this installation. Could it be a threat to the neighborhood’s tranquility? “No disturbances,” confirms Serge, a retiree living right across from the land. According to him, the travelers were playing pétanque and showing respect towards the neighborhood. Others, like Joël, speculate humorously about how these families could have opened access despite the barriers. “They must be notifying someone from the building who comes with a machine, and they slip a little note,” he jokes, while recalling that the neighborhood mayor had requested their eviction during the last installation.
A scheduled eviction #
Despite the acceptance expressed by some locals, the traveler community finds itself in a fragile situation. One of the members even expressed hope of not seeing a “bad article” about them, while continuing to establish their presence, armed with a drill. The Toulouse city hall, for its part, indicated that a new eviction request would be filed as soon as the following Monday, highlighting the ongoing tension surrounding this issue, as well as specific allocations regarding the use of the land.
