Le maire présente les contours d'un projet progressif. JM – JM
Un patrimoine historique désormais implanté au centre du village. JM – JM
Pour Denis Terraillon, le projet manque de garanties de cofinancements. JM – JM
In Montarnaud, the project led by Mayor Jean-Pierre Pugens aims to breathe new life into the wine-growing building. Including the new town hall and a performance hall, the structure would become a new epicentre of local life. The former deputy for finance points out a lack of guarantees of co-financing and subsidies.
It dates back to 1939 and at the time stood a stone's throw from the historic village, in the middle of the vineyards. The Montarnaud cooperative winery is now almost at the barycentre of a town of over 4,400 inhabitants, located between the college, residential areas and the old heart of the village. Having lain fallow for a long time, the building is the subject of a restructuring project led by the town hall. The appointment of the project manager responsible for the rehabilitation into a multi-purpose hall was on the agenda of the December town council. But, in the ranks of the opposition, voices are raised against the project.
A less expensive alternative mentioned by the opposition
Among these dissenting voices, that of the former deputy for finance is particularly critical. Because for Denis Terraillon, who is now, in fact, in the opposition “the project as it is presented today has been emptied of its substance. (In 2020) the initial project, which had been consulted with associations, elected officials and others, planned to bring together a third place, a new function room, a media library, music, dance and circus rooms, the real social hub, the coworking space, the games library, the town hall, the municipal police, on 3 levels“, snaps the elected official who also questions the financing* of the structure, estimating that there “is an alternative consisting of building a new village hall for a reasonable budget of less than €2 million.”
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000A population explosion
Demographic evolution: "we have gone from 2,600 inhabitants in 2010 to 4,400 today (and soon 5,000) with the creation of the ZAC. There are now 1,000 young people under 14 in the village. This is an asset but it requires equipment. Since we arrived in 2020, we have created 5 more classes and a 400 m2 ALSH", recalls Jean-Pierre Pugens. The current town hall could become the new social centre. We will return soon, in more detail, to these projects. Ultimately, the site of the cooperative cellar could have two other buildings including a media library costing “around 2.50 M€”. It would include, on the upper floor, housing, in connection with a CFA in the area, “which would allow us to obtain green funds. And we are reserving the space for a possible 3rd building. “We are in a progressive approach,” says the mayor. A music and dance school are also mentioned.
“Bringing life to the new village center”
With a sketch of the project in hand, Mayor Jean-Pierre Pugens presents a rehabilitation program that has the ambition of both “honoring the past and preparing for the future”A wine-growing past that is still alive and a future that intends to make this heritage a link between the old heart of the village and the more recent part of a commune that has developed considerably* to the south-west of the cellar. “It will be an epicenter of local life, an egalitarian project that will allow families to meet. Otherwise, we would have on one side a kind of dormitory town and on the other a kind of historic city. And people who don't talk to each other.” This program will include a new town hall*, “the municipal building in the center of the village, in accordance with the Republic”, and a performance hall, “intelligent”, modular, of approximately 500 m2 with at least 250 seats, retractable bleachers and a second stage, outside, for the summer and village festivals*. “The project has certainly evolved a lot since 2020. But we have now entered an almost definitive phase. And the principle remains: it is about bringing this new center to life.”
A progressive program
The cooperative cellar has not operated since 2004 and belonged to the Cave de l'Ormarine. Following the recent exchange of a former municipal plot of land with Ormarine, the cellar and its 13,000 m2 of land now belong to the municipality. On the financial side, the transformation of the cellar and the development of the exteriors are estimated at 7 million euros including tax. The demolition of the interior of the cellar should begin in February. “Montarnaud's finances are healthy. Demolition work should begin at the end of February for an amount of 750,000 euros excluding tax in equity”, specifies Jean-Pierre Pugens. “Then, rehabilitation work could begin at the end of 2025 “if our financing methods are well in place. If we wait too long, we will never do anything. The operation must get underway to create momentum. We believe that funding will arrive afterwards.” Finally, avenues are being explored to recover funds: installation of solar panels (in shade structures and on roofs, in partnership with CESML), “We have large areas. Then, the largest transformer in Occitanie is in the town. Everyone wants to connect to it, we are going to introduce “fee elements for the town”, announces Jean-Pierre Pugens. These are avenues that should generate funds useful for financing. “We are working on future revenues, others are under discussion. We will recover the advances that we make”. For the transformation, “files are also filed, within the framework of state aid under the Brownfield Funds”. Requests for co-financing are also being made to the Region, the Department and the CCVH, “even though we know that, for the moment, for the Department, it will be difficult”.
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