Bordeaux-Toulouse rail project: Prefecture bans weekend protests
Environmental protesters say the demonstrations against the high-speed train projects will still take place
The Gironde prefecture has said the protests present a risk of “serious public order disturbances” and “sabotage”
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Protesters have been banned from holding a demonstration against the Toulouse-Bordeaux LGV Sud-Ouest train line this weekend, with authorities citing a “risk of serious public disorder”.
In a press release, the Gironde prefecture also said the protest was “undeclared”, and claimed that there was a risk of “serious public order disturbances, acts of blocking and sabotage, occupation or damage to sites” if the protests were allowed to go ahead.
The prefecture said that “several thousand participants could potentially be present this weekend”. It has also banned the transportation of fuel, the use of fireworks or firecrackers, and the carrying of weapons by protesters.
It has authorised SNCF and the gendarmerie to use drones to take images and videos of any protests.
Protests against two high-speed rail projects
Organisers from environmental associations - including Les Soulèvements de la Terre - have stated plans to hold ‘Freinage d'urgence contre les LGV du Sud-Ouest (Emergency brakes against the South-West LGVs)’ demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday, in protest against two high-speed rail projects.
Demonstrators are set to protest against the Grand Projet Ferroviaire du Sud-Ouest (GPSO), which is set to create two high-speed lines: Bordeaux-Toulouse, and Bordeaux-Spain.
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Les Soulèvements de la Terre has said on X that the protests will still take place, and that the “areas affected by the prefectoral decrees are located several dozens of kilometres away from [our] camp”.
Environmental campaigners claim that these lines will cause the destruction of 4,800 hectares of land, and damage ecosystems, and the projects have long been controversial among campaigners. Yet, a survey earlier this year found that the majority of local people (78%) are largely in favour of the plans.
Read also: Strong public support for new TGV lines in south-west France
Work on the project to the north of Toulouse has already begun. Work south of Bordeaux is scheduled to start soon.
Read also: Work finally starts on new high-speed train line Bordeaux to Toulouse
