The opposition criticizes the opening of a new shopping center in Lille

• A large shopping complex opens its doors this Tuesday, August 25 in the Lille-Sud district.
• This project, carried out for ten years by Martine Aubry, aims to revitalize one of the most disadvantaged districts of Lille.
• Except that the oppositions are wind head against this new complex.

Some 55,000 m2 of surface area, 92 different brands, 900 parking spaces: a huge shopping mall will be inaugurated this Tuesday in the Lille-Sud district. After long years of waiting, the Lillenium project comes to an end.

Supported since 2009 by Martine Aubry, mayor of Lille, this complex aims to revitalize one of the most disadvantaged areas of the city. About 700 jobs should be created, part of which will be reserved for Lille residents.

Despite these social promises, Lillenium is far from achieving unanimity among opponents of Martine Aubry. Many castigate this project which almost never saw the light of day before being relaunched in 2017 thanks in particular to the contribution of public funds (12 million euros from the deposit fund and 12 million from the ANRU ) out of an overall budget of 145 million euros.

🏬 - JJ!

The Lillenium shopping center opens today at 5 p.m. in the Lille-Sud district! pic.twitter.com/TOrCWgCszE

"It's another model of society"

"The public money wasted here should have been used for projects allowing Lille-Sud and its inhabitants to engage in the ecological transition", castigated in a statement the members of EELV Lille who have switched to municipal opposition following the last elections.

Another criticism: the damage done to local shops. “The small business and the artisans are suffering at the moment. And opening a shopping center with large brands, we think that is not necessarily the solution. We would have preferred a policy that supports short circuits rather than seeing multinationals set up in the Lille-Sud district. It's another model of society, ”tackle Faustine Balmelle, opposition councilor and member of Generations.

Even the communication campaign is singled out

Another party but same opinion on the side of Violette Spillebout, head of the LREM list in the municipal elections. "In fact, we have here the perfect counter-example of what the health crisis has taught us: consume less, better, local, promote artisanal production and support entrepreneurs in our region", indignant on Twitter the news city ​​councilor.

In fact, this is the perfect counterexample of what the health crisis has taught us: consume less, better, locally, promote artisanal production and support entrepreneurs in our region. It's time to # FaireBreathLille🌿 .... https://t.co/Nq4N6jrbYg

Finally, even the communication of the shopping center, considered sexist, takes its grade. Head of the LFI list at the last municipal elections, Julien Poix was moved by it on social networks. “The new Lillenium shopping center is inflicting on us an advertising campaign worthy of a bad episode of the series 'Madmen'. Outdated economic model and sexism. It is distressing ”.

The new #lillenium shopping center is inflicting on us an advertising campaign worthy of a bad episode of the series "Madmen". Outdated economic model and sexism. It is inflicting. @VDNLille @BFMGrandLille @fbleunord pic.twitter.com/Y7S2xm3UQ0

The Lillenium project is therefore unanimous against him in the municipal opposition. It remains to be seen how the first concerned will react, namely the inhabitants of Lille-Sud. Because this new complex is primarily intended for them.

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• Martine Aubry
• Mall
• Lille