In the midst of a historic drought in the PO, the construction of an 18-hole golf course near Perpignan sparks controversy
Despite the controversy, work has already started since November 2023. PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION
In the Pyrénées Orientales department, which is suffering from historic drought, the construction of an 18-hole golf course in Villeneuve-de-la-Raho, near Perpignan, is being questioned by the Minister of Agriculture. #39;agriculture and contested by a hundred scientists who request the suspension of work already started.
While the climatic situation in the Pyrénées-Orientales is considered "very worrying" by the Minister of Ecological Transition, Christophe Béchu, the scientific community rebels against the project to build a golf course in Villeneuve-de-la-Raho, near Perpignan .
An emblematic project of an outdated vision
In a column published by our colleagues from L'indépendant, 92 researchers from the University of Perpignan denounce the continuation of this project while the department will be cruelly short of water this year, and possibly the following years."The droughts are such that we can compare the water stress we are experiencing with the semi-arid situations affecting Spain or Portugal", affirm the signatories of the forum.
Academics estimate that this project "above-ground" is & ;quot;emblematic of an outdated vision, symbolic of a way of acting and deciding from another time" .
"A golf course without a water zone poses a slight difficulty"
Guest on the show "Political Questions" on France Inter this Sunday, February 18, the Minister of Agriculture also expressed his doubts about the project and affirmed: "a golf course in an area without water, even without being golfer myself, it still seems to me that it poses a little difficulty".
Marc Fesnau, notably raised the question of priorities for access to water in the region, which according to Météo-France is entering its third year of drought. "As soon as we have a hierarchy of uses, they themselves take the risk of having a golf course that is a doormat"< /em>, underlined the minister.
The mayor of the town brushes aside the criticism
But faced with these criticisms, Jacquelines Irlès, mayor of the town since 2001 and leader of the project since 2003, is not discouraged. "That doesn't scare me", says the councilor in an interview with Parisien.
She states in particular that it is a "real green lung" which makes it possible to avoid total concreting of this building area on which 600 housing units should also be erected, and ensures that the golf course will be watered entirely with the water recovered by the water station ;purification. Remains that the level of rain is at its lowest, with 250 mm of precipitation in 2023, a record deficit.
Despite the controversy, work has already started since November 2023, with the desired end of work at the end of 2025 – beginning of 2026. Opponents of the project are calling for the work to be suspended as quickly as possible .
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