Castelnau-le-Lez: “A stop to urbanization”, announces the mayor Frédéric Lafforgue

Frédéric Lafforgue (au micro), aux côtés de ses adjoints Gérard Sigaud (de g. à d.), Isabelle Séran, Gassien Gambier et Nathalie Lévy. – PCa

In a panoramic overview of the back-to-school files, the elected official announced that he wanted to contain the development of the 2nd commune of the Metropolis, today at 26,000 inhabitants, tomorrow at 30,000. “And we will leave it there”.

Frédéric Lafforgue surrounded himself with his closest collaborators, this Thursday, September 5, in the mini-park of Clos des Verdures, in the heart of Castelnau-le-Lez. “A ritual”, he emphasizes, on the Castelnau files of the start of the school year.

Gérard Sigaud, First Deputy, in charge of Economic Attractiveness and Digital, but also Isabelle Séran, Deputy for Education, Gassien Gambier, in charge of Youth and Security, or Nathalie Lévy, Deputy for Social Actions and Early Childhood, are there.

The PPRI contributes to blocking everything

The sensitive subject of the development of the Castelnau territory comes up quickly. “I want to put a stop to urbanization, clarifies the mayor. We have launched several studies on the subject. The latest documents of the Intercommunal Local Urban Planning Plan (PLUI) confirm this decision. But you know, it's like an oil tanker that stops at Port-de-Bouc: it starts to slow down from L'Espiguette."

The 2nd commune of the Metropolis, which today has a total of 26,000 inhabitants, “Tomorrow there will be 30,000 Castelnauviens. And we will leave it there”.

On the Avenue de l'Europe as in the old town, at Caylus or at Champ Juvénal, “I have already signed five permit refusals”. Especially since the “Flood Risk Prevention Plan (PPRI) runoff” has been invited into the discussion. “Since last February, explains the mayor, I have a card… but still unofficial for the moment. Everything is blocked."

And in the Sablassou area ? "We are going from 10 ha to 5 ha, announces the elected official, dedicated to hosting the new clinic" (read below).

4th city in Occitanie in terms of job creation

Gérard Sigaud returns to the attractiveness of Castelnau, "the 4th city in Occitanie in terms of job creation, after Toulouse, Montpellier and Perpignan ! We work hand in hand with businesses." The first deputy mentions the creation of the digital hub, the "Pôle N", an investment of 5 M€ serving residents, schools or businesses.

The mayor launches a large sequence on security. In announcing the creation of a municipal police station on Avenue de l'Europe, he hands over to Gassien Gambier, in charge of Youth and since this summer of Security, who is also a professional firefighter captain. Alongside Major Éric Plisson, deputy to the Castelnau gendarmerie battalion, the elected official is delighted with the effective collaboration between the municipal police and the military.

In the end, Frédéric Lafforgue takes out his smartphone to find a study on the morale of mayors: “It seems that a third of elected officials are at risk of exhaustion. For my part, I am in great shape!"

Sablassou: the 10 ha project reduced to 5 ha

In the Sablassou area, along Avenue de l'Europe, the creation of a 10 ha land reserve has been voted in the Metropolitan Council on October 3, 2023.

Intended to accommodate the Parc clinic, currently cramped on 1.5 ha on the banks of the Lez, this project has sparked controversy: the clinic needs at most 6 ha, what about the remaining 4 ha??

A utility survey public hearing on the urbanization project, closed on August 2, reportedly received nearly 1,000 negative opinions. “But it's the Metropolis that gets a red card!, underlines Frédéric Lafforgue. Moreover, the investigating commissioner asked fifteen more days to submit his report."

Anyway, "we go from 10 ha & 5 ha dédiés à the establishment, indicates the’élu. An agreement has been made. signed with the clinic for a transfer between 2024 and 2028, all this under the authority of the clinic. of the state since this agreement was implemented signed with the ARS."

As for à alternative solutions, "above Pompidou, it’s blocked, continues Frédéric Lafforgue . À Eurêka, there are only 3 ha left and under high-voltage lines… In addition, Sablassou is already a stop on the future bustram line and close to the TER station which has been confirmed. You know, the old PLU and the Scot under Georges Frêche had already targeted this location."

Gassien Gambier (at the microphone), in charge of Youth and since this summer of Security, joined at the podium by Major Éric Plisson, from the Castelnau gendarmerie battalion.

“Education, one of our priorities”

In this back-to-school week, Frédéric Lafforgue welcomes “the support of the departmental council and its president Kléber Mesquida", in particular for the announcement, during his visit alongside Rector Sophie Béjean, of “14 M&euro which will be invested in the college”.

“Education remains one of our priorities, insists the mayor. We are making progress on the integration of school restaurants: the one in Jean-Moulin will be completed in June 2025, the Little Princes in January 2026 and Rose de France following.”

“The nine schools in the town have a total of 2,200 students,explains Isabelle Séran, the assistant to education, this year we are at an average of 26 students per class, compared to 30 last year. We are getting closer to the national recommendations at 24 students!”

Frédéric Lafforgue continues by highlighting the Ulysse class opened this year, for 12 students with disabilities. "&Agrave soon twenty years of Jacques Chirac's law on inclusion, he emphasizes, we are moving towards inclusive schools.”

New places in daycare

On the early childhood side, Nathalie L&eacutevy develops “the extension of Madiba, with 15 more places next January, and the signing of the building permit for La Ruche” which will offer 35 additional nursery places at the beginning of 2026. With a capacity of 208 places in collective (4 establishments) or at home, “the town welcomed 350 children last year and out of 211 requests this fall, 171 were able to be satisfied.”

After a detour through upcoming sports investments, Frédéric Lafforgue is taking a break from his hobby of parks in Castelnau. “We will inaugurate two new ones this year, he continues, notably during the Parks Festival, on April 24, Easter Monday. On the 11 km2 of the territory of the commune, we have preserved a third of wooded areas and agricultural land.”

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