AND HERE IS THE NEWS…

….a quick glance at the latest local news with Caroline Manson

Rainstorms hit P-O (at last!)

On Thursday the rain made a welcome return to the area, accompanied by thunder and lightning.  It appears that no town or village was spared and the French Observatory recorded 230 lightning bolts.  Mini power cuts affected several towns, including Millas, Céret, Thuir and Argeles, and the Salanca shopping centre in Claira suffered flooding when water began pouring from the ceiling.  More than 30mm of precipitation was recorded by midday in Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet, and further up the valleys snow has fallen on Font Romeu and the Canigou.

Boat fire in Saint-Cyprien

A spectacular fire broke out in the port of Saint-Cyprien around 11pm on Wednesday night when two boats caught fire.  Firefighters intervened under dangerous conditions as the strong southerly winds made the sea extremely choppy.  Two boats were completely destroyed and another was heat damaged, as was a wooden pontoon.  One person was slightly injured when he attempted to remove some of his personal belongings from another boat and fell into the water.  The origin of the disaster remains undetermined, but it should be noted that this is the second time in two months that a fire has broken out in the port.

Squatters to be evicted from property in Perpignan

The owner of a large detached house on Avenue Rosette Blanc has at last received the court order permitting him to evict squatters who had illegally moved into his property.  They had changed the locks on the entrance gate and front door and posted a pit-bull dog by the gate.  The ‘winter truce’ which forbids landlords to evict tenants during the period November 1st to March 31st (too cold to put people ‘on the streets’) does not apply to squatters so they have 1 week to vacate.  There are a large number of squatters in the Pyrénées-Oriéntales – in October alone the prefecture had issued 3 eviction notices in Perpignan alone.

Drugs and Cigarette trafficking ring dismantled in Le Barcares

Following months of painstaking investigations a vast illegal trafficking networks was dismantled in Le Barcares this week.  An innocent looking grocery store on the beachfront was the head-quarters for a group of smugglers who distributed narcotics and cigarettes from the shop.  On-site the gendarmes found weapons (some being war weapons), cigarettes, narcotics, luxury items, jewellery, valuables and also several stolen vehicles.  9 individuals were arrested and investigations are ongoing.

Médicobus arrives in the P-O

The lack of GPs has long been a problem in the region but they now seem to have come up with a solution; a bus which will provide a mobile medical service.  This bus will serve around 30 muncipalities in the Vallespir and Aspres who suffer from ‘Medical Desertification’ (seriously, although I think I speak fluent French there are some expressions which are just beyond translation!).  It is aimed at people without an attending physician, the elderly, people with long-term conditions or generally any inhabitant with difficulty in accessing care. The first circuit of the Medicobus is scheduled for November 17th and it will pass through La Bastide and Saint-Marsal.  This solution was financed to the tune of 78,260€ and is considered an ‘experiment’ which is to last for 3 years.

And finally…..

Le Barcares is the place to celebrate the end of year festivities, not just because of the famous Christmas Village but because it appears there will be plenty of champagne on offer.  The town hall has put out a tender to various companies to supply 80,000€ worth of champagne.  The document does not specify the number of bottles desired but if the average price of a bottle in the supermarket is 25 euros this sum would purchase 3,200 bottles.  The tender document has asked for quotes based on price, taste, delivery times as well as the aesthetics of the bottle and each application will be analysed by a jury based on sample bottles sent to the town hall.  The opposition to the current civic leaders are scandalised and are asking questions such as what are these bottles to be used for, are they to be part of the Christmas packages distributed to residents, will they be used for the pensioners meal or at the Mayor’s New Year ‘wishes’ ceremony.  Alain Ferrand, the Mayor, has not yet responded to their questions – but he is perhaps still occupied with legal issues as, having already been convicted of abuse of corporate property, illegal interest-taking and tax fraud he is facing trial in October 2026 for extortion from tourism professionals and traders connected with the organisation of the Christmas village.