“It’s smoke”: why the century-old trees are gradually disappearing from Avenue Lepic in Montpellier ?

Anne Quintin Duvignau voit ses “chers platanes” disparaître au fil des mois sur l’avenue Lepic. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Work on line 5 has been disrupting the urban landscape for some time. Avenue Lepic, which is on the route of the future tramway, sees the number of its plane trees decreasing over the months. Explanations.

Avenue Lepic was known for its beautiful avenues of century-old plane trees. Closed to traffic a few months ago, it was transformed by force of circumstances into an open-air construction site where you have to zigzag between dug trenches, backhoe loaders and other work equipment.

And for good reason, it is on the route of the future line 5 and will therefore see the tramway and no longer the cars by 2025. But what mainly agitates and worries about this project is the conservation of the famous plane trees which gave all the charm to this avenue.

Each tree entwined with a wooden protection

The message displayed suggests the desire to keep the trees. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Because for some time now, some have disappeared: on either side of the large cavity which is currently gutting the roadway for the construction of the tram line, the specimens still standing are each surrounded by a wooden barricade surmounted by an inscription "Here, we protect the trees." And each one is assigned a number to prove that each plane tree is precious and that its existence and preservation matters.

Moreover, most local residents remain confident on the subject despite the surrounding dust and the successive disappearances of certain plane trees. "We were promised at a public meeting that trees would not be cut down in large numbers", we hear on the café terrace and along what remains of the paths.

Some specimens are still standing… Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

But other residents are more skeptical: "Since the start of the work, the trees have been cut down little by little without anyone noticing ;rsquo;account for it. One after the other, we pay more attention to it."

At the start of the work, there were more plane trees.

Like Anne Quintin Duvignau who doesn't get angry: "Many have already been sacrificed and this is only the beginning.& quot; Additionally: "It's done at 5 in the morning, and when we go out, the ;rsquo;tree has disappeared as if it had never been there, not a single trace left."

Health status, security: more than twenty already killed

The Montpellier metropolis ensures that it does everything possible to best preserve its trees by working with an ecologist and an arboricultural expert. "The th project provides for the conservation of the monumental perspective of the plane trees on Avenue Lepic. The plans and distribution of public spaces have been carefully planned. adapted accordingly. Nevertheless, 21 plane trees were destroyed. cut off for health reasons or necessary for the line 5 project."

"The structure of the roots of these subjects did not ensure their stability, thus presenting a danger to the sector ."

She confirms as well as "on Avenue Lepic, trees will be replanted in place of each of the cut-down areas. The project plans to plant 19 trees of various species in order to optimize the sustainability of the plant. of alignment. "

Before adding: "And so general, a cut tree will give rise to à term &agrav; two trees planted along the route, for a total of 1,600 trees planted as part of the project."

And to complete his remarks:"It’s smoke, it’s what is most revolting: under the pretext of highlighting a desire to protect them through  rsquo;an extraordinary communication campaign, we kill them one after the other. Frankly, we are being made fun of. And the worst thing is to say that every tree will be replaced: a hundred-year-old plane tree for one or two stunted shrubs, the count won't be there. It's a waste, it's counterproductive and then we'll complain because we'll die of heat."

For her, these trees, already weakened by drought and therefore tired, will not be able to resist. And the arguments put forward are implacable: "With the gigantic holes, we necessarily destroy the roots, even if…", she recognizes, "we try not to do that. And that's without counting the overhead electrical wires to power the tramway which will take place, sacrificing those who survived the work, if any survive."

A little further on, a local faithful supports his point: "Certain branches will have to be cut to make room for the power cables . The only problem is that by sawing off the “annoying” branches, the experts have assured that this will unbalance the tree so it will have to be cut down for safety reasons. security."

For the workers, trees are a priority

Yet on the construction site, trees are a priority. The workers try to keep them alive but it’s not an easy thing. "We must not touch the roots, we do our best to preserve them." Frequently checked, the condition of each tree is examined closely.

"I witnessed a very big argument the other day, the men on the construction site were attacked by a specialist because& ;rsquo;they had damaged a root, confides a regular on the avenue. "But they also have pressure on the progress of the work."

Another resident explains: "They even diverted a trench to protect one of the trees, so that delays them… "

A project which revolves around the Place du 8 Mai 1945

In the project it is clearly displayed the will to keep the trees lining the tram route starting from Place du 8 mais 1945, rehabilitated with squares and green spaces along the route of line 5.

"The tramway and the station are located under the viaduct of avenue de la Liberté leaving Avenue Lepic towards Avenue Clemenceau. Vast planted and permeable spaces welcome pedestrians under different layers of canopies which will evolve according to the seasons, as detailed in the project description.

Before announcing: "The place itself creates the opportunity from the installation of a brasserie terrace to the outlet from avenue Lepic à the shade of magnificent plane trees, memory of the site."

The visual of the project shows the conservation of trees on Avenue Lepic. GAU Agency

The question remains unanswered now as to the number of survivors once the tram is running. Hoping that the charm and shade of this alley will be preserved as much as possible. Response end of 2025…

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