• The friendly fishermen of the Vallon des Auffes have installed barriers to protect themselves from the incivility caused by the overcrowding of the Vallon des Auffes.

  • The sector town hall asked the Friends of the Vallon des Auffes association to leave the premises they occupied in the face of security problems linked to the use of the channel.

  • Behind all its issues, a political quarrel is playing out between the town hall, on the left, and the metropolis, on the right.

Under the sun, an association of local residents, a friendly of fishermen, paddles and watered aperitifs ... and in the shade, the city and the metropolis. An explosive cocktail for the Vallon des Auffes, this small fishing port in the heart of Marseille which looks like a postcard, but which in reality has the greatest difficulty in living together.

First episode, the installation of a palisade by the association of recreational fishermen of the Vallon des Auffes (APPVA) to fight against incivism.

“We are asking that the private part on which our boats are located be protected from the public domain.

We can no longer go down to access it because of the world, there are cigarette ends, bottles of whiskey.

And kids could hurt themselves with the winches, ”explains Charles Cieussa, president of the association who admits knowingly installing“ ugly ”palisades to shock.

They have since been withdrawn, and the metropolis plans to install new ones.

"They understood the situation and they will separate the private part thanks to adequate barriers", he is satisfied.

"All the young people call me uncle"

Since then, there has been a lot of talk about another problem.

The town hall of the 1st and 7th arrondissements has asked the association of friends of Vallon des Auffes to return a small room located a few meters further on on May 19.

What does not understand Serge Vila, vice-president of the association.

"Three months ago we were told that it was good, and we received a registered letter asking us to leave three weeks ago," he chokes.

They have been living in this place since 2015, where they organize cultural aperitifs, cleanings, and mediation.

“I arrive at 9 am to clean up all the waste from the aperitifs the day before: bottles, rubbish.

I manage to pacify everyone who comes to the Vallon, all the young people call me uncle because I make sure they don't mess things up, ”he explains.

The kayaks of discord

His association also rents kayaks and paddles when they are not used for cleaning the seabed, once a month.

And it is this activity that poses a doubly problem.

The sector town hall accuses him of this commercial activity, which is not authorized.

“I am accused of putting money in my pockets when these rentals, at associative prices, 5 euros per half hour, simply allow us to keep the association alive.

We have always refused any subsidy to remain independent, ”he recalls.

But kayaks and paddles use the channel of the small port, which is prohibited.

“It was the fishermen's association that raised this problem several months ago.

I have lived here for over 50 years and there has never been an accident to my knowledge.

And everyone bathes in this channel ”, considers Serge Vila, who proposed to create a launching behind the room so as not to cross the port.

An ideal solution for Charles Cieussa.

“It's the best,” he says.

And we don't want them to leave, it's an eco-citizen association that cleans the place and does a very good job ”.

Mayor Vs Metropolis

Behind these more and more problematic bickering in fine weather, a political standoff is actually playing out between the town hall, on the left, and the metropolis, on the right. “Everyone has been complaining about the safety of the channel for months, with the passage of kayaks, paddles and swimmers. This is also the reason why the metropolis recently had a demarcation installed. In addition, no commercial activity was authorized and the association's head office was not up to date. I will resume the subject at 0, ”explains Sophie Camard, mayor of the 1st and 7th arrondissements.

The metropolis recalled that "the city of Marseille is not legitimate to rule on the occupation of the premises of the Association of Friends of Vallon des Auffes", in a press release.

But a tripartite agreement between the Metropolis, the central town hall, and the sector town hall does exist.

"The elected officials of the metropolis do not assume their position, there is a form of generalized cowardice", denounces Sophie Camard.

The members of the Friends of the Vallon des Auffes association claim to have never been aware of the existence of this agreement and are planning a mobilization, in addition to a petition, if they do not win their case. to what they see as "a settling of scores between the town hall and the metropolis". 

Sport

OM: The presenter of "Complément d'Enquête", Jacques Cardoze approached to become communications director

Elections

Regional in Paca: "There will be no agreement with En Marche", affirms Renaud Muselier

  • Marseilles

  • Harbor

  • Tourism

  • Society