It’s a place loved by children … but also by teens. Whether coming from college or high school, many of them come to have a good time in the public park on Place de l’Egalite, at the crossroads between Route Fumel and Rue Gambetta. Very little of the residents are exposed to the noise generated by these communities. Who are concerned for their safety. At the initiative of Jean Bruno Balquin, who lives a few meters away from recreational facilities, a petition has been launched to make the neighborhood more calm. And around him, he gathered 14 other residents, who wanted the municipality to intervene in some games. “As the last municipal elections approach, this country park has undergone major transformations – the development of alleys, modifications of recreational units – which today are leading to an increasingly large presence,” explains Jean Bruno Blaken. If the place was mainly occupied by mothers, before this work, then today this is something completely different. More annoying people, “which leads to disorderly and dangerous behavior that undermines the tranquility of the place as well as the safety of some users, not to mention the large quantities of garbage that are abandoned daily and often on the ground.” For the resident, the crux of the problem is a new activity, a swing in which many children can sit on a large plateau. Suitable for young children, a little less for adults. So Jean Bruno brings, from his home, “the acrobatic parts for 3, 4, 5, and sometimes 6 teenagers”, while the game is intended for children between the ages of 2 and 10. With this petition, residents wish to challenge Villeneuve-sur-Lot Town Hall to solve these problems, for the sake of teenage safety and neighborhood tranquility. Establishing larger information panels, adapting the swing game, and preventing unwanted gatherings that could turn into “a gathering place for petty crime” as one of them puts it in the document.
After the municipality got hold of the problem, it actually fixed the gate, “as the lockout wasn’t working.” “The municipal police come every day to check the place’s calm and disperse the crowds. The lighting in this square will be improved,” says the city council. An exchange with the locals should also positively improve the situation on the Place de l’Egalité.
