More than 500 people present Friday evening in Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas: “Inaugurating a town hall is rare”, declared the prefect

At the time of the speeches, Mayor Claude Salau, surrounded by three senators, the vice-president of the Department Christophe Serre, and the departmental councilor Carole Bergeri, the prefect Jérôme Bonet, and the deputy of the 4th constituency. Midi Libre – C. C.

The CM1 and CM2 pupils made drawings of their new “Maison commune”. A series was hung on the railings of the new building. Midi Libre – C. C.

The council chamber, spacious and bright. Midi Libre – C. C.

Le préfet du Gard Jérôme Bonet a félicité l'ensemble du conseil municipal. Midi Libre – C. C.

There was a crowd… Midi Libre – C. C.

Time to cut the ribbon! A moment that the village schoolchildren were eagerly awaiting. Midi Libre

L’accueil de la nouvelle mairie de Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas. Midi Libre – C. C.

The old town hall, cramped and impossible to bring up to accessibility standards, was no longer suitable at all. The new building, 100% self-sufficient in electricity, represents a very substantial project for a rural community. Many citizens and officials attended its inauguration on Friday evening.

It is the flagship project of the mandate of the team elected in 2020, it is even the project of the century! Saint-Julien-de-Peyrolas, a town with 1,598 inhabitants, inaugurated its new town hall on Friday evening, in the presence of more than 500 people, many citizens of the village and neighboring towns, many elected officials as well as the prefect of Gard and the group commander of the Gard gendarmerie. It was with emotion that Mayor Claude Salau summed up: “The old town hall is a building from the end of the 17th century, full of history and emotion, it has witnessed so many important moments, and has known how to adapt to the needs of each era. It had become cramped, and it was not tolerable that during weddings, elderly people or people with disabilities could not climb the narrow staircase… ” A building impossible to rehabilitate to accessibility standards. The new town hall is “the symbol of our desire to make procedures accessible to all”. Claude Salau also pointed out that “getting a project off the ground without subsidies is practically impossible for our rural communities”. The municipality took out a loan of one million euros over twenty years. Excluding tax, the total bill comes to 1,375,000 euros. The Gard Department awarded a subsidy of 180,872 euros and the State contributed 278,100 euros. Carole Bergeri, departmental councillor of the canton, declared: “With this 21st century town hall, you are bringing to life the motto Liberty, equality, fraternity.”

Tribute to local elected officials

Senator Denis Bouad paid tribute to this role of mayor, “listening 24 hours a day”, then lashed out: “When I read that local authorities are the cause of France's debt, let them come and see this town hall!” Completed by Senator Laurent Burgoa who also congratulated: “Unlike the State, you must present a balanced budget, otherwise you are blacklisted. You are setting a good example, for you, a penny is a penny." In turn, MP Pierre Meurin said about this local mandate: "You embody the safeguards of the Republic. It is the State that is responsible for the deficit." Finally, Prefect Jérôme Bonet praised "the large and reassuring turnout this evening, proof of the importance of this emblematic building. Inaugurating a town hall is rare. Congratulations to all of you, it is magnificent. The mayor reconciles, guides, is the guarantor of local public services, social ties and solidarity… The mayor is a pillar of the Republic, this town hall is the most beautiful illustration of this".
The schoolchildren proudly participated in the ribbon cutting. Above all, they exhibited their drawings on this common house. Marc, 94 years old, served three terms as deputy mayor. After the speeches, like many, he toured the offices, the bright council chamber: “It was essential. It's modern!”

An electrically autonomous building

The deliberation was voted on in June 2021. The project is the result of “a long collective effort” explained the mayor. Construction began in March 2023. Municipal staff and elected officials moved in their new premises (330 m2, on one level) in mid-July. “It's very functional, bright, without frills. We also renewed the furniture. We were very lucky with a good architectural firm and good craftsmen” specifies the first assistant Françoise Eymard. The building is 100% self-sufficient in electricity, thanks to the solar panels installed on its roof. Great care has been taken contributed to the choice of environmentally friendly materials.

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