LWill the demonstration of activists against the mega-basins, these reserves for agricultural irrigation, be limited to the commercial port of Pallice this Saturday, July 20, as planned by the organizers? Or Will the city center extend as far as La Rochelle, as Mayor Jean-Francois Fountain hopes? Which has also taken security measures: delaying the traders’ clearance sale for a week and canceling the flea market at the foot of the turntable.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict what will happen. But on the streets of La Rochelle this Thursday morning, July 18, the carefree holiday continues and few people seem to care. Behind the fruit and vegetable stall, Alexander “doesn’t worry about it any more.” Demonstrators generally don’t go very far. But in the middle of the tourist season, it worries us a little. » Right next door, his rival Valery admits: “I don’t know about it and I don’t know what the basin is. I’m not worried, I don’t understand why they would be violent. But it’s true that my clients have been talking to me about it since this morning. »
Among them are Alain and Danielle. Septuagenarians who don’t really sympathize with anti-basins say they’re “more than concerned.” And too bad for the Saturday races, it is decided: “We will not come. We live 30 kilometers away, we will stay there. I wouldn’t want to be a trader,” Danielle sympathizes.
A waste of a Saturday in July?
The flight of customers, tourists or locals, is the main fear of those who want to make a living from tourism, without doubt the most worried about the idea of showing off. Chantal, owner of Le Bretagne restaurant on the Cours des Dames, fumes: “If they break too badly, but it’s our survival at stake.” “If we had to close on a Saturday in July, we would be dead. We are all stuck by our throats. There was the weather, the Francofolias, now this…” He also laments the lack of information.
A little further away, at the Famous Pub in the Old Port, Romain received an email, but the owner, Sylvie, found out that a demonstration could be held. Both of them feel helpless: “We can’t do anything and we live it very badly. » Romain is pessimistic: “For sure, we will lose one day. Maybe we should bring in the terraces, it’s very disturbing. »
Tourists are there
Excessive anxiety? So far, no decision has been made in this direction and the tourists who meet are relieved. Many are unaware of the demonstration and have no concerns. Eric and his daughter Domitille came from Nantes for the day. They won’t be there on Saturday anymore, but Eric is “not worried.” “I see that the collectives are asking good questions about basins and water use. These are topics that institutions and politicians should take the time to sit down and have a real discussion about. But I hear the shopkeepers’ attitude. »