Orne Council - Alain Lambert’s Blog

The department’s elected representatives met on the 29th May for the Permanent Commission. They adopted several motions for the improvement of life in the Orne: a new protected natural site in Le Perche, grants to the equestrian network, creation of sports facilities, improving access to culture in smaller villages, help for small businesses …

► A new protected natural site : Bretoncelles Marshes

As part of the new programme of natural sites which the council adopted in November 2008, the commission voted for the creation of the new natural site in the east of the department in the Bretoncelles Marshes. It’s an area of marshland and rivers in the heart of Le Perche Regional Natural Park with reed beds, prairies and swamps and housing several rare species. Its ecological interest has lead to this 37 hectares acquiring its protected status, which will also enable the commune to benefit from council grants to help improve the site.

Key points

• The Council has a policy of protecting remarkable sites. There are 16 across the department which are managed by the council and where it holds guided tours. Of all the sites, nine are open permanently to the public: le Grand Hazé, la Roche d’Oëtre, les Coteaux de la Butte et de la Bandonnière, les Gorges de Villiers, les Petits Riaux, le Camp de Bierre, le Vaudobin and le Coteau des Champs Genêts.
• A programme of guided tours and opening hours in the Regional Natural Parks can e found on our site, orne.fr
  

► Developing equestrian events

The commission voted for a grant of 50,000 euros towards the different competitions which will be held at the Haras du Pin (International  Carriage driving, Hunter Trials…) and 25,000 euros towards various show-jumping competitions. Several equestrian centres have received council grants to improve their facilities (39,000 euros in total). The council has also voted grants to help private stud farms, for example 15,000 euros which went towards a racecourse in Roiville and a home-stretch at Bazoches-au-Houlme.

Key points

• There will be around 20 equestrian events this summer
• 7 out of 10 private stud farms receive grants over the course of a year

► Help to small businesses

In order to facilitate the growth and purchase of small businesses, the council is able to offer them grants at 0% interest. So far, 90,000 euros has been loaned to six artisans across the department. This loans will help, for example, a bakery in Gacé to buy equipment and a bakery in Alençon to replace old equipment. The loans will also help entrepreneurs to buy local commerces: a hairdresser in Randonnai, a bakery in Putanges-Pont-Ecrepin, a white-goods shop in Domfront and a bar-tabac in Alençon.

Key points

• Through the FDTPE (departmental funds for very small businesses), the council allocates five-year 0% interest loans to help develop or purchase very small businesses.

► Help local authorities to finance industrial projects

Maintaining its interest in economic development, the council allocated 48,000 euros to the CDC Perche Rémalardais in order to help AC Concept Engineering in Dorceau which specialises in moulding rubber and plastics. This grant will help the company, which has recently taken over Polysoud and its 16 employees, to extend its current buildings. The council wished to help local authorities who invest in their local businesses in times of need, such as during a takeover.

► Renovating mairies

The commission decided to help six villages in their renovation projects - to either construct or renovate mairies. For example, 46,000 euros to Saint-Bômer-les Forges to build a new mairie; 22,622 euros to La Haute-Chapelle for interior works, and 15,700 euros to Tourouvre, Neauphe-sur-Dives and Vidai.

► Helping young adults

In november, the council gave 156,500 euros to the BIJ (Bureau Information Jeunesse). During this last commission, the members signed a contract which laid out the specific projects which the BIJ will have to undertake.

The BIJ offers information, help, courses, study-help and job-seeking advice.

► Literacy and reading

Improving access to literature is one of the priorities of the county council, particularly in the most rural areas. The commission therefore voted a budget of 41,500 euros for the construction of a new library in the Pays du Camembert which will open its doors in June. This grant will help with interior decoration, computers and the purchase of multimedia files for the library in Vimoutiers

Key points

• The Department’s Multimedia Library helps 49 libraries across the county.
• The grant is for investment in fixtures and fittings, lending, professional training and subsidising of one job post.

► Developing ways of ecological heating in colleges

The council has decided to connect François Truffaut Collge in Argentan to the wood-boiler heating network put in place by the town last automn. This will enable a modenisation of the colleges heating system and reduce their heating bills by 13%.

► Sport in the Orne

The council is helping with the creation of a new outdoor sports facility in Saint-Gervais-du-Perron, in the pays de Sées, which has no sport facilities despite joungsters representing a third of the population. A grant of 6,000 euros will enable the construction of a court for handball, basketball, volleyball, badmington, tennis and football, like at Trun (which is also funded by the council.

The commission has decided to help with the renovation of a tennis court at Saint-Mard-de-Réno (3 700 €), modernising the changing-rooms at Radon, which hosts 200 matches per year (16 000 €).

30,000 euros is also budgeted for the renovation of the multisport hall in Briouze. Built 30 years ago, the building is in a very poor state of repair due to its high-usage (950 primary children during the week and 600 sportspeople at the weekend).