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IN BRIEF
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The administrative court of Toulouse recently rejected the request of a local residents’ association aiming to suspend the opening of a temporary transit area designated to accommodate travelers in Saint-Etienne-de-Tulmont, in Tarn-et-Garonne. Despite their objections and concerns, the judge’s decision allows for the legal installation of this area, starting from the first days of June 2025. This article examines in detail the stakes, the positions of the various actors, and the implications of this decision.
The context of the development of the transit area
The opening of this transit area in Saint-Etienne-de-Tulmont responds to a legal and social necessity. The community of communes Quercy Vert Aveyron has developed the site on agricultural land, requisitioned by prefectural order dated April 2025. This land of more than 4 hectares is intended to temporarily accommodate, between June and October 2025, up to 200 caravans of travelers passing through the department. The challenge is to respond to the anticipated massive arrival of groups who, in the absence of suitable structures, could until now settle illegally, with all the risks that entails.
The prefect justified this requisition by the urgency of providing a space compliant with regulations and equipped for temporary accommodation. He notably emphasizes that, without this organization, illicit installations were frequent, posing problems particularly in terms of dangerous electrical connections and general safety. More information on the importance of preparations during travel is available here.
The arguments of the local residents and their legal action
In response to this prefectural provision, the association La Clare-Dariac, comprising about thirty local residents near the chosen location, mobilized and filed an appeal for summary proceedings with the administrative court of Toulouse. Represented by Me Thomas Bouyssonnie, they called for the urgent suspension of the prefectural order.
The association members highlight their interest in acting, as they live in immediate proximity to the developed parcel. They invoke a real and certain impact on their daily lives, primarily fearing nuisances related to the installation works, safety issues due to the absence of fences, and the impossibility for the site to ensure the safe movement of several groups of caravans. Furthermore, they denounce the choice of the site located in a residential area, arguing about an obvious risk to road safety.
The prefecture’s defense and the justification of urgency
In response, the prefect refutes the standing of the applicants. According to the prefecture, the local residents would not experience sufficiently characterized disturbances of occupation or enjoyment due to the temporary presence of the caravans on the land. It is also noted that no new or aggravated risk of illegal occupation of their neighboring plots is established.
The prefect emphasizes the urgency of bringing the concerned land into compliance with hosting requirements, particularly regarding safety, sanitation, and access management. The absence of such a legal area would exacerbate the problem of illegal installations, already observed in previous years. This situation reflects the complexity of managing movements, similar to issues encountered for certain passport-free destinations.
The judge’s decision on interim measures
After analyzing the written submissions of both parties during the hearing on May 27, 2025, the interim judge considered that none of the objections raised by the local residents were of a nature to create a serious doubt regarding the legality of the prefectural order. In other words, the emergency procedure is not justified, and the request for suspension of the execution of the order is rejected.
The judge specifies that it is not even necessary to examine further the admissibility of the request or the urgency invoked. For the members of the association, this decision is particularly difficult to accept. According to Jacques Carral, spokesperson, the collective had hoped to be heard but finds itself in suspense regarding the continuation of its actions. This reaction is part of a broader context of local protests, both in France and in other countries, regarding the conditions and consequences of accommodating nomadic groups.
The repercussions for the municipality and the local residents
In practice, the opening of the area is now imminent, likely starting June 1, as stated in the order. The court’s decision marks a turning point in the management of the accommodation of travelers in Saint-Etienne-de-Tulmont, prioritizing the general interest of organized housing over the specific concerns of the immediate local residents.
This situation also raises questions about the hosting modalities for other itinerant groups, local regulations, and the trade-offs between individual rights and collective interest. It resonates with other mobility issues, as highlighted by the challenges concerning family travel, airfare pricing, or visa restrictions in various contexts.
