An absurd municipal decree: travelers deprived of parking on their own land

IN BRIEF Municipal order prohibits parking of caravans and mobile homes in Vigneux-de-Bretagne. Decision made by the mayor since 2023, initially targeting travellers. Four families owning land are deprived of being able to reside there. Consequences on education and daily life of the affected children. The ADGVC 44 association and the local deputy are taking the justice system to request the cancellation of the orders. General restriction: all residents prohibited from parking caravans or motorhomes on private lands. The mayor invokes the respect of the Local Urban Plan and the use of agricultural land. Ongoing debate on cohabitation and the management of parking for mobile homes in the community.

In Vigneux-de-Bretagne, north of Nantes, a municipal decision initiated by the mayor has sparked controversy: the parking ban covering not only travellers but also all residents with caravans or mobile homes, even on their own land. In response, associations and local officials have mobilized to denounce what they consider an absurd municipal order, leading to legal proceedings to defend the violated rights of the families involved. A look back at a situation where questions of justice, urban planning, and cohabitation intertwine closely.

The origin of a contested measure

Since 2023, the municipality of Vigneux-de-Bretagne has successively issued two orders prohibiting the parking of mobile homes in the area, especially impacting travellers but also all owners of motorhomes, caravans, and light habitats. This decision has been justified by the city hall, based on the Intercommunal Local Urban Plan, which prohibits such installations in agricultural and natural zones. The mayor, Gwenola Franco, claims to strictly enforce the law without discrimination, explaining that these lands can only be used for agricultural activities.

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Families in precariousness

For the affected families, the shock is immense. Anthony, one of the impacted residents, recalls that he has owned his land, registered with the authorities, for nearly nine years, where his family lived in a light habitat arranged with several Algeco units. “Our situation is precarious, as we can no longer enjoy what we own,” he confides, highlighting the devastating effect on his children’s education and their sense of attachment to the place. His partner Adeline expresses their daughter’s frustration at having to leave her school and familiar environment.

Reactions and legal recourse

In response to the scope of the second municipal order, the Departmental Association of Traveller Citizens of Loire-Atlantique (ADGVC44), with the support of local deputy Ségolène Amiot, filed an emergency motion to request its suspension. Lawyer Pierre Huret, representing the association, highlights the legal absurdity of the measure: in addition to stigmatizing travellers, it also affects any citizen who wishes, even temporarily, to park their caravan on their own land, making private arrangements virtually impossible without risking being in violation.

An impact well beyond travellers

This unusual prohibition extends beyond the issues facing travellers. Now, any resident of the municipality, including those simply wishing to store a caravan in winter or temporarily set up a yurt, is affected. As deputy Ségolène Amiot points out: “Any resident of Vigneux-de-Bretagne today does not have the right to park a caravan on their private land.” This is a shared observation among associations, which urge the municipality to respect individual freedoms and request suitable hosting and housing solutions.

The mayor’s defense: strict respect for legal framework

Mayor Gwenola Franco insists on the strict application of urban planning rules and denies any intention to target a particular community. According to her, buyers of agricultural land were informed of the applicable regulations at the time of the transaction. She also emphasizes that the latest order simply replicates local provisions, while assuring that they have redirected families to designated welcome areas nearby, in accordance with the current departmental roadmap.

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A changing departmental welcome scheme

In Loire-Atlantique, the departmental scheme for welcoming and housing travellers addresses these issues and specifies the number of spaces to be created and their locations. The document, currently under revision for the period 2025-2031, must respond to the growing challenges related to sedentarization and the lack of suitable solutions. However, Christophe Sauvé, the general secretary of ADGVC44, regrets the tendency of some municipalities to shift responsibility to the State or the community of municipalities without providing concrete alternatives for the affected families.

A societal issue and cohabitation

At the heart of the protest is the fear of a slippery slope towards widespread repressive measures, to the detriment of cohabitation. Advocates for travellers underline that targeting mobile or light habitats inevitably affects other residents and raises questions about the municipality’s ability to ensure inclusion and diversity within its territory.

Resources and additional information

To better understand the context of parking and legislation in France, it is useful to consult various guides and practical advice, such as tips for parking at Roissy, an overview of parking prices in France, or bargains to optimize your parking.
For enthusiasts of nomadic life and camping, the article Échappées Belles: camping can inspire other forms of mobile living. On other topics, student initiatives are also emerging, such as the demand for improvements in parking on campuses.