Community of communes of Clermontais: for 2024, construction sites and still the land issue

Claude Revel préside la communauté de communes du Clermontais. Midi Libre – E. L.

La communauté de communes du Clermontais, dite Salagou Coeur d'Hérault, démarre 2024 avec quelques beaux chantiers.

Comment accueillir de nouveaux habitants 

The community of communes of Clermontais, which gradually took the name of Salagou Coeur d'Hérault, is subject to land pressure from a territory that has become the second crown of Montpellier. The surge in prices, once very advantageous, and above all the shortage of land are making themselves felt. "The law which imposes Zero net artificialization complicates our task because in our villages, people are looking for large plots of land, they will not come to live in buildings", notes President Claude Revel, also mayor of Canet.

The Scot, a territorial coherence plan for the Hérault valley, voted in 2018, provided for 600 ha of urbanizable space for the 77 municipalities that make it up, until 2040. A large part has already been consumed. On the economic development side, studies have been launched on new areas: 6.3 hectares in Canet, 10 ha in Paulhan, 3 ha in Saint-Félix-de-Lodez. Nothing in common with the Salamane de Clermont area and its 50 hectares. The new areas will have no trouble being filled, it will be craftsmanship. We don't have problems of attractiveness, but of land. We are not racing the population, to welcome new arrivals at all costs, but rather to ensure that those who settle can also have a job and a good quality of life." The desire to accommodate rather high socio-professional categories, in a territory where only 40% of the population is taxable, is assumed. 

Construction projects in progress

Water treatment is a priority for the intercommunity, which would like to develop this sector. In 2024, work on the intercommunal water center, based in Clermont l'Hérault, will be completed. The 1,157 m2 building is labeled Sustainable Building of Occitanie. At the same time, the Paulhan wastewater treatment plant, also intended for the residents of Usclas-d'Hérault and Aspiran, will be delivered within the year and will be particularly innovative, with the objective of reusing wastewater to water municipal green spaces and the stadium. A 3.8 million euro project (including €820,367 from the Water Agency, and €1.1 million from the Department). "We have worked a lot on securing the resource and on the network: in 2018, we had an overall efficiency of our pipes of 55%, we increased to 75%. We have entered into a contract with the Water Agency, with a program that runs until 2030, analyzes President Revel. 

The Théâtre du Sillon, in Clermont l'Hérault, is undergoing major construction: the replacement of the retractable stands will eventually be offered in two configurations, 150 seats, or 241 seats. A budget of 2.3 M€ (with subsidies) committed to the renovation which will also make the building accessible and compliant.

Still on the work side, those of the aquatic center will start: this concerns the development of the first floor to accommodate community sessions in good conditions , and to offer three other rooms for rental. A project estimated at 100,000 €. 

And also

Common.Claude Revel was elected mayor of his town of Canet when he was only 25 years old. 34 years later – this is his sixth mandate – he presides over the community of communes with the general idea that it must be at the service of the communes. It thus allows any of the 300 elected officials from the 21 municipalities to come and attend community sessions (not just community delegates). "I am a fervent defender of the municipalities, which is why we need a good balance in skills: the municipal level must retain its meaning. On town planning in particular, permits are processed, but it is the municipality which retains its decision-making power on its territory."

Public services.The community of municipalities also supports the Maisons France Service system with dedicated agents who travel to six locations. In 2022, more than a thousand individual meetings were held there. 

Staff. Among the 350 intercommunality agents, 150 work in the early childhood and youth sector. 

Viticulture. With 80 estates and cellars listed on its territory, the community of communes knows the potential it has. of this has been designed with a new manifestation Les cuvées du Salagou Cœur d’Hérault. From spring, this new list of wines will highlight local winegrowers, and the excellence of know-how.

Tourism: big stakes

2024 should see the Mourèze-Salagou file labeled a major site in France,   but the main challenge remains to work on the seasonal wings. If there are many visitors in the summer period, the lack of accommodation capable of accommodating groups, or of the high-end type, penalizes the activity. The ambition to make tourism a sector of excellence is there. The Chemin des deux lacs (between Salagou and Avène) with its 130 km of marked hiking trails is a fine example of the development of the area's natural assets. < /p>

The Salagou nautical base is one of the community of communes' outdoor activities. Midi Libre – MICHAEL ESDOURRUBAILH

The mobile brigade: 6 ASVPs rotating across 18 municipalities

The establishment of a mobile brigade of ASVP (public highway surveillance agents) in June 2022 is, according to President Revel, a ;success: it especially proved itself during the summer. 2023. The three teams of two ASVPs were able to share their missions in the territories of the 18 member municipalities (out of 21). “Sometimes dates overlap, with multiple events requiring a security effort” take place at the same time,  and the planning is not simple" smiles Merbouha Rambil, general director of services, who leads this team. "But we have experienced it, there is good solidarityé between the communes."

The ASVPs also sometimes offer support to elected officials who do not have municipal police in difficult relations with certain citizens or intervene on small conflicts freeing the gendarmes from these missions.