City policy: more resources obtained for 2024, according to the sub-prefect of Gard

Jamira Mansouri, médiatrice relais à l'association mosaïque de Bagnols, l'une des actrices de la politique de la Ville mise en avant par Mathias Nieps. MIDI LIBRE – Adrien Boudet

Mathias Nieps a présenté les fondements de cette politique d'Etat, dédiée à certains quartiers nécessitant une attention particulière, dans plusieurs communes du Gard.

10.6 million euros. This is the overall sum of what the city policy in the Gard represents for 2023. While 2024 is a pivotal year, during which the perimeter of the QPV was redefined, the new sub-prefect Mathias Nieps wanted to present to the press the functioning of this state policy intended for neighborhoods in difficulty in several municipalities, as well as a certain number of local actors.

"Last year, we overhauled the geography of city policy. We now have 17 districts, with a slightly decreasing population of 74,000 inhabitants." A drop due, according to the state representative, to a reduction in population in certain neighborhoods as part of urban renovation.

Extension of 300,000 euros

However, assures Mathias Nieps, funding is increasing. Thus, following the events of last summer in Nîmes (riots in July and fatal shootings in August), "an extension of 300,000 euros was obtained", explains Mathias Nieps.< /p>

Among the actors presented, the Le Rocher association, which works at Chemin-Bas in Avignon, was particularly highlighted. "It's a Catholic popular education association, explains Saskia Mincheni, co-director. What we want is to get out of a compartmentalized world. By coming to the association, we decide to come and live in the neighborhood, with family. We try to have a posture where we live among other residents. "

Another highlight: the role of relay adults (envelope of 1.5 million), i.e. 98 adults in Gard (around fifty in Nîmes) who can serve as mediators in within neighborhoods. Numerous measures have been put forward by the sub-prefect of Gard, such as the summer and winter quarters, which allow young people who do not have a summer vacation to stay. #39;have access to outings during school holidays, or even the "prevention battalions" to avoid falling into delinquency. 

City policy also serves to finance several projects such as the Pelatan space in Chemin-Bas, the municipal swimming pool (in Saint-Gilles) or the aquatic area in Bagnols -sur-Cèze (Escanaux).

"In this year 2024, our big news will be the renewal of city contracts. A work which was preceded by 13 citizen consultations and 30 hours of public meetings, insists Mathias Nieps. Which assures that without these devices, the riots at the beginning of summer 2023 would probably have been much worse.