- Long surrounded by water, the city of Lille has filled all the canals over the centuries.
- Already present in 2008 in Martine Aubry's program, the idea of a refill in the Old Lille sector resurfaced during the 2020 municipal campaign.
- With a marked opposition between the pro and anti-re-watering.
As its name suggests, Lille (L'Isle in old French) was born on the water. At the time of its founding over a thousand years ago, the northern city was located in the middle of several arms of the Deûle. But centuries later, nothing or much remains of this presence of water in the heart of the city.
During the municipal elections of 2008, Martine Aubry wanted to remedy this by proposing to restore the avenue of the Belgian people. "It was even on the cover of his program," recalls Stéphane Baly (EELV), head of the Lille Verte 2020 list.
A project that emerges from the boxes at each election
Estimated at around 45 million euros, the project finally fell… into the water due to the economic crisis. But like a sea snake, the re-watering of Old Lille has reappeared for the 2020 municipal election. And all the lists have an opinion on the question. With an observation shared by everyone.
Deemed "sad", "deplorable" or "abandoned", the avenue du Peuple Belge, one of the main arteries of Old Lille, needs a major facelift. “We are really in the heart of Lille but when tourists arrive on this avenue, what image does it leave of our territory? “, Questions Thomas Werquin, co-lister of Faire Respirer Lille, the list led by Violette Spillebout (LREM).
"Make Lille a city like Bruges"
So, to boost the attractiveness of the sector, everyone goes with their proposal. First there are the re-watering pro. Those who wish to "make Lille a city like Bruges" as Marc-Philippe Daubresse claims, head of the list "Tous pour les Lillois" (Les Républicains). The former minister offers two options. “Either we return the water to the middle of the avenue but it will cost around 40 million euros (financed by the city, the MEL and European funds). Either we take a nice walk strewn with mirrors of water which could cost between 10 and 20 million euros ”.
An estimate on which the urban planner Stanislas Dendievel does not yet venture. The assistant of Martine Aubry and candidate on the list "Lille in common, Lille in confidence" led by the outgoing mayor (PS), presents three options "Our project is to demineralize this avenue and to make it much more pleasant to the people of Lille who we will submit different proposals. There is the option of re-watering the avenue, the option of a large landscaped walk and water on one part, or the option of a 100% plant-based project ”.
Several proposals also exist at "Faire Respirer Lille" which wants to divide the avenue into two parts. “We can re-fill the sector that goes from the Deûle to the new bridge. And from the courthouse to Place Louise-de-Bettignies, we offer a mix of greenery and water mirrors, ”explains Thomas Werquin.
Greens and rebellious do not want water
Opponents of re-watering point the budgetary cost of such a decision. “For us, it's a bit of a big useless project that costs money. It has to do with the politics of the gadget. Rather than putting it back in water, we would especially like to put the Belgian people back in green, ”says Julien Poix (FI), head of the list“ Decide for Lille ”.
Same point of view from the green side. “We want to take a long green walk from the current parking lot to the end of the avenue to reach a green arc which links Euralille to the Deûle. This project, on which there will be no construction, does not prohibit making a mirror of water at the start of the avenue near the courthouse, ”explains Stéphane Baly.
Our file on municipal
Lille will be consulted on the issue
Re-watering, re-greening or "redeveloping and re-blooming the already existing banks" as suggested by Eric Cattelin-Denu, head of the RN list, everyone has plans full of success. But there is no question of imposing anything.
All the candidates say it loud and clear with their hands on their hearts: the people of Lille will be consulted on the subject. “Citizen forums”, “co-construction” or “democracy shock”, everyone is going there to finish to ensure that local democracy will be at the center of the avenue of the Belgian people. Martine Aubry even assured that she would propose a referendum on the subject in the event of re-election. Water has not finished making headlines more than fifty years after it disappeared from the streets of Lille.
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- Martine Aubry
- Lille
- Municipal
- Elections