Several elected officials from Loiret called on the State on Thursday, May 11 to ” take his responsibilities “ in the face of the nuisances suffered by the residents of an annual gathering of some 40,000 Travelers who are members of an evangelical association in Nevoy (Loiret), on land which usually accommodates half of them.
“Before the Covid, we had between 15,000 and 20,000 pilgrims. (…) 40,000, that creates a lot of nuisance. We are not equipped to receive so many people. The population is overwhelmed, there will be a tragedy one day “noted the DVC (Divers Centre) mayor of Gien, near Nevoy, Francis Cammal.
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“It’s total anarchy”, regretted the elected official, referring to wild connections to the water and electricity networks, as well as participants doing their business in the roads, green spaces and private land of the agglomeration. The annual gathering of the evangelical association “Life and Light” is to be held until Sunday.
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“People don’t understand that we let it happen, but we don’t have the hand. The State must assume its responsibilities to reduce the number of participants. 40,000 is not manageable”he insisted to AFP.
On Tuesday, this situation almost degenerated, according to Francis Cammal: an octogenarian was arrested after shooting in the air towards a group of travelers entering his land to relieve themselves, he said. .
In custody, the man “indicated shooting in the air, with no intention of hurting anyone”confirmed the public prosecutor of Montargis Jean-Cédric Gaux. “There are no injuries” and the octogenarian will be tried in November for “violence with a weapon, without incapacity”.
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250 gendarmes for 38,000 participants
“Do not wait for a tragedy before acting”asked the State the deputy RN of Loiret Mathilde Paris. “What comes back is the droppings. (…) If there was not that, I think it would pass ”she told AFP.
“Gien has 13,000 inhabitants: 40,000 people who suddenly land, the city is not able to absorb”believes the elected, also asking the State to establish a gauge in the future.
The prefect of Loiret Régine Engström went there on Wednesday. The prefecture indicated Thursday that the device had 250 gendarmes to supervise 38,000 participants.
The military carried out nearly 4,000 vehicle checks, noted 177 traffic offenses and issued 56 fines for abandoning waste, said the prefecture.
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“It is not organized anarchically”
On the side of Life and Light, Joseph Charpentier described a much less gloomy situation.
“It is certain that whatever the nature of the pilgrims, 40,000 participants in a small rural town, it creates an embarrassment. (…) The Giennois is not on fire either. There are 250 gendarmes present. It is not organized anarchically”he said.
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Regarding the health aspect, the pastor explained that he had installed a hundred toilets on the association’s grounds.
“I have a team of 12 people listening to mayors and local residents, who will clean on demand when land is soiled”he insisted.
