The entrance to the Ford plant in Blanquefort, near Bordeaux, July 31, 2013 -

Patrick Bernard AFP

  • Ford closed its gearbox production plant in Blanquefort in 2019.

  • The question of the reconversion of the site is debated.

  • Bordeaux Métropole and the mayor of Blanquefort Véronique Ferreira, explained on Monday why they oppose Ford's wish to sell the site to Amazon.

A "showdown" between Ford and the metropolis, with Amazon in the middle.

The PS president of Bordeaux Métropole Alain Anziani spoke on Monday of the difficulties between the community and the industrialist, on the future of the former Ford Aquitaine Industries (FAI) site, whose production ceased in 2019. “There is negotiations with Ford which are difficult, launched Alain Anziani.

What the manufacturer offers us does not suit us, since Ford would like to welcome Amazon, it is not our choice.

We think that instead of an industry we need an industry.

"

The former industrial site covers a total area of ​​approximately 90 hectares.

At the start of Ford in 2019, it was split into different lots, with a mix of private and public land on arrival, Bordeaux Métropole recovering a part.

For sites under its control, the community launched a call for expressions of interest (AMI), for which it received various applications.

“We will have results soon,” announced Alain Anziani, and these will be industrial projects.

"We are working with the region, and we should see each other within one to two weeks," said the mayor of Blanquefort Véronique Ferreira.

"Amazon offers us a very large building, with very few jobs inside"

But on the Ford production site, which still belongs to the industrialist, Véronique Ferreira is just as categorical as Alain Anziani: Amazon, to whom Ford wants to sell, it's no.

“By closing, Ford has made us lose industrial know-how,” she explains.

Amazon, for its part, offers us a very large building, with very few jobs inside, low-skilled and low-paid, and with a number of truck trips in a space that is not ready to receive them… All this confirms our decision made several months ago, that Amazon in this place is not a good idea.

Within the framework of the law, if necessary we will exercise our right of pre-emption.

Ford sells to whomever it wants, but the metropolis can also assert its right of first refusal.

"

Véronique Ferreira, mayor of Blanquefort, in front of the employees of the Ford plant during a walkout on March 5, 2018. - M.Bosredon / 20Minutes

The FAI site, closed in 2019, has been in the process of decontamination and demolition since last December, which will take several more months.

“We have a building that is not far from 12 hectares, recalls Véronique Ferreira, it will not be finished in 2021.” The depollution, financed by Ford, is carried out by the Dreal (regional directorate for the environment, and housing).

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  • Ford

  • Amazon

  • Aquitaine

  • Economy

  • Bordeaux