AND HERE IS THE NEWS…

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

Windy weekend

The department was on ‘orange’ alert this weekend due to unusually (even for here) violent winds.  Gusts of 180km/h were recorded at Cap Béar, a record since the 2009 storm.  Luckily no damage was caused to buildings but flights were cancelled, there were power cuts in Elne and the surrounding area, and several Christmas events were cancelled.  The Splendeurs de Chine in Céret had to close and cancel its weekly firework display and the Le Barcarès Christmas village was also evacuated and closed for the rest of the day – which is very bad news for this tourist site which was to welcome tens of thousands of Spaniards during their holiday weekend.  On a positive note, snow has arrived in the mountains.

Bus crash investigation results

On Sunday 1st December, a Spanish coach with 47 people on board crashed into the rocky side of the road near Porté-Puymorens.  133 firefighters, forty gendarmes and five helicopters attended the scene but tragically 3 people died and many of the passengers, including children, were badly injured.  Investigations have now shown that the bus should never have been kept in circulation as the MOT was out of date, it had already had a mechanical problem earlier in the day, and the tachograph had been deactivated.  Blood samples taken from the driver also show that he had been using cocaine. He has been remanded in custody awaiting trial.

Pool water used by fire department

The SDIS 66 (firefighters) have recovered 400m3 of water which had to be emptied from Rivesaltes swimming pool during renovation works. This is part of an initiative which began in 2023 as a result of the drought, where individuals, water parks or communities who need to empty pools can contact SDIS 66 who will come and pump it out and take it to store in their ‘fire tarpaulins’ (those large green things often seen in the car parks of shopping centres) or even in wine cellars as some wine tanks have been transformed into water reserves.  In 2024 they managed to recover and store 15,000m3 of water and this has helped the firemen to avoid using water from fire hydrants and depleting local levels.

Unprecedented ‘control’ operation on A9 motorway

On the night of Thursday 5th to Friday 6th December the Gendarmes carried out their largest ever ‘control’ of traffic on the A9 motorway.  All vehicles travelling from Spain to France were diverted to the Pavillons rest area at Pollestres.  Checks were carried out for blood alcohol levels, narcotics, protected species, unlicensed materials, tachograph checks and illegal immigration.  57 offences were recorded including 7 crimes and licence retention procedures, vehicle overloads and three illegals immigrants were arrested.  Despite the fact it caused major traffic problems the police do not rule out doing it again and hope that the element of surprise will prove a deterrent for those who abuse the rules of the road. The timing of last weeks ‘control’ was not good for the tens of thousands of Spaniards who traditionally spend this holiday weekend in the area, visiting Perpignan Centre, Collioure, Le Barcarès Christmas village and also the ski-resorts.

Company caught dumping septic tank waste

A company in Perpignan which specialises in ‘building hygiene and the protection of residents’ has been sanctioned after two trucks from the company were caught dumping septic tank waste into the small river near the south toll of the A9 motorway.  The two trucks will not be allowed to operate for 2 months and the company has had its permit removed and can only apply for a new one after 6 months.  Septic tank waste has to be taken to approved treatment centres, which is an expensive process but it is always charged to the customers, so apart from polluting nature the company was also technically robbing its customers.