Noise, incivility, dealers, syringes, fights… has Clemenceau Park become unfrequentable ?

Des grilles empêchent l'accès au parc la nuit. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Located on Boulevard Clemenceau, the green space ideal for relaxation and children's games, very popular with families, has recently become a place that is not very popular. Local residents are disillusioned, while regulars are fed up and very worried.

For several months, with the work on tram line 5 on the boulevard of the same name, Parc Clemenceau has been open to the four winds, day and night. The gate and entrance gate have been removed to allow the work to progress. Previously, opening hours prevented access at night.

The local residents who live in the immediate vicinity can't take it anymore. “At night, young people come to extend the party after the bars close and in the early morning, the construction site returns.” As Jean-Pierre describes it, the noise pollution is incessant. From 1am, party-goers take their places on the park benches or lawns with music and loud voices, some dogs barking can also be heard and from 7am, the tram work starts again. No respite from the noise for the residents of the neighborhood who are starting to get tired.

Barriers put in place

Marie-Noëlle then struggled to warn the town hall. “A coordinator came last Wednesday. And she was very efficient. The next day, fences were installed." Hoping that these metal fences will be enough to block access at night. Jean-Pierre, her husband, speaks more of a’symbolic closure than a real closure." But like their neighbor Françoise who is worried, they are patient and hope that everything will be back to normal by the end of the work.

Temporary gates while waiting for the permanent gate. Midi Libre – L. D.

The gates were placed a few days ago blocking access to the park. Midi Libre – L. D.

Furious and very worried parents

Which is not the case for several parents who frequent the park with their children. Yanick accompanied his son for a birthday last Saturday. Like every week, several children's parties enlivened the paths and lawns. "But between the dealers who work shamelessly while the children have fun, a fight with a knife pulled out next to the kids and another between young people for a racketeering case, inevitably we say to ourselves that this cannot continue."

"The dealers are not even hiding anymore. The part of the park where they do their business is even called the “dealers' corner,” says a local mother who prefers to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.The other day, one of them wanted to fight another in front of the gate of the big slide. He took out a huge knife and attacked the other young man before starting to laugh. That day the park was packed. The children were shocked, they cried at the sight of blood. “ The individual was arrested by the police and the investigation was entrusted to the SLPJ.

Same speech from some mothers who are regulars of the place. Sophie and Sarah are sorry about the state of the park. “Since our children were little, we come in the afternoon to read, in the summer the place is nice for snacks, for aperitifs in a friendly atmosphere, some play ball, others play boules, there is also the shared garden. There has always been a bit of drug trafficking or other things, but now it is taking on such proportions that we hesitate to come.”

Like the childminders, who say they are exhausted from having to control the areas dedicated to young children. "We have lost count of the number of syringes lying around the park and its surroundings. Every morning, we collect broken bottles, bits of glass, and bottle caps to protect the babies in our care."

“Patrols to show dealers that they can't be left alone”

Sébastien Cote, deputy mayor of Montpellier, delegate for security, acknowledges that the work has not improved the situation, particularly with regard to noise pollution. “The fact that Clemenceau Park was not very well closed because of the construction site encouraged nighttime gatherings. Barriers were installed by Tam to solve the problem.”

As for the drug dealing point, “that's something else again”, he explains. “This point is not new, it is unfortunately known to our services and those of the national police. The persistence of this traffic is a real concern. That's why I've just ordered a specific mission."

Police patrols have therefore been requested to check that there are no "squats" in the park.

"Normally this should dissuade people who have no business being there. We are working with our partners in the national police in this regard to show dealers that they can't be left alone."

The national police are on the same page. There is a drug problem in the park that has been increasing for several months. This is also why a comprehensive police operation was carried out on Monday, September 30 in the area. An individual was arrested and drugs were found. “This type of intervention is intended to be repeated”in order to guarantee the peace and safety of citizens.”

Everyone is unanimous in saying that this park must be protected. Marie-Noëlle assures us: “This park is a living place that deserves to be saved." Especially since this garden almost never saw the light of day. It was thanks to the volunteers of the Pavé association who campaigned to prevent the construction of buildings that it was opened to the public more than twenty years ago.

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