How do things stand to date ?

Now that GDE/GED have withdrawn their project, and following the mayor of Plouray's recent announcement of GED's intention to sell the land at Cohignac, we remain convinced that we must not drop our guard for at least two reasons: first, GDE/GED still have two years in which to put forward another project, and, second, even if it is confirmed that the land is for sale, who could afford to buy it at their price?

That land must be returned to agriculture, and to food-producing, environmentally friendly agriculture, what's more.

We must not forget that one of the reasons for this 3 year long fight is that the public paths in Cohignac were sold illegally by the Mairie, without a public enquiry. Whatever else happens, we demand that the commune buy them back.

Public paths decidedly are an issue in Plouray. In La Villeneuve-Runellou, a Danish company that produces Christmas trees has appropriated three sections of public paths and bulldozed flat the banks and the ditches to create a car park for their own use! These paths and their banks were listed in the Carte Communale, the ancient oaks and beeches are no longer, but the Maire has not taken any action despite being alerted six months ago, with regular reminders since.

Each time, another fragment of our common heritage disappears.

Meanwhile, NPCB and a group of 20 associations are working on the redefinition of the Natura 2000 site Rivière Ellé. Its current perimeter does not even include the whole length of the Ellé itself and leaves out many of its tributaries and most of the wet lands that should be included if the principle of overall ecological coherence is to be adhered to.

This is another major project but well worth fighting for to ensure the lasting protection of the exceptional environment of this region.