The tempo is not slackening on the Plouray front, and this, again, will have to be a two-monthly instalment !

December started on a high note with our annual general meeting, on 4^th December. A well attended gathering, an opportunity for all to put their questions, get further info, put forward ideas, and generally exchange on the fight against the mega-dump project. It is crucial that you, our members and supporters, keep informed of the developments, since you are in turn our relays to your respective circles and friends and relations.

Over the past year, as you'll have read in the previous reports, we managed to secure the support of 124 communes and of all levels of local government through to the Region, which is a good thing. Our finances are sound, we ended the year with a positive balance which is being put aside. The board was reappointed without changes.

December ended with a bang too, when we heard that the Préfet du Morbihan had informed GDE that the technical file they had submitted in July was inadequate and they would have to complete it extensively before he could contemplate authorising a public enquiry ! We are now waiting to see if and when GDE produce a new document.

The end of year celebrations came and went, then the snow, but that did not stop us working via the Internet!

On 13^th January, we heard the most fantastic news from Nonant-le-Pin, in Normandy. GDE bought agricultural land there back in 2006 to create … a mega dump site, right in the middle of France's equine Mecca! That region is literally GDE's backyard, hardly 50 km from their head office in Rocquancourt, and for years, they have extensively subsidized local football teams, bands, associations, etc..., thereby ensuring the unfailing support of most elected representatives. The local associations led a very tough fight over the last four years, and we knew since early December that the Prefet's final decisions was imminent there. Then it came: REFUSED! The recital is worth reading through:

• legal obligation of the public authorities to ensure the protection of the environment,

• location of the project on the upper reaches of a river, consequences on the hydrographic system, wetlands, etc...

• risk of pollution of underground and surface water,

• impossibility to guarantee that the drainage system before the dump will last for ever,

• potential consequences on public health due to the mixing of waste of diverse types,

• fire hazard,

• excessive distances between the points of production of the waste and the dump site,

• etc, etc, etc...

So many excellent reasons which apply equally well to the Plouray project.

GDE now have two months in which to file an appeal against the Préfet's decree.

That war is not won yet, but this is a major victory.

Our war is not over yet either, but this excellent decision will give GDE/GED much to chew over. The risk is that the pressure will intensify on us and on the third project in Guémené-Penfao.

Let them, we're ready for them.

We now have the confirmation that we are on the right track (not that we doubted it), the same arguments have been substantiated elsewhere. The Nonant decree sets a precedent. And we also have the demonstration that our team work with our sister associations that fight GDE throughout France is paying off. We've worked hard on exposing the Trafigura / GDE methods and their consequences. The decisions makers can no longer claim that they didn't know, because we're telling them!

So, a very happy new year to you all!!