“Although we talk about relocating the campsite that is currently on the seafront, there is actually very little relocation taking place”, claims Jean-Philippe Lacoste of the Conservatoire du Littoral. Rather than a relocation, it is actually more like moving house. Hubert Dejean de la Batie, Vice-President of the Regional Council, added: “By destroying the old campsite and relocating it, we are letting more nature back in. This is the first climate change adaptation project in the area. All Mayors representing coastal communities are on the front line in the fight against climate change. Quiberville can act as a case study to inspire other coastal municipalities or inter-municipal partnerships.” Turning back to Jean-François Bloc, he declared: “Your visit isn’t over just yet!”
Nature is therefore set to reassert itself. According to Jacques Thélu, President of the joint association of the Saâne Vienne Scie catchments, “The valley tended to fill up with water, but struggled to drain it away because of the culvert pipe. However, in the 1500s, all of this was marshland. So we will be returning to the natural state of things, as they were in 1500. In any case, we know that the sea level will carry on rising.”
A view over the valley
Laurent Topin also spoke about fish: “This is also a waterway containing migratory fish. We’ll be creating a new riverbed with a new meander that will run into where the current campsite is located. The Saâne will flow into the Channel underneath a bridge. All of this has been carefully researched. This layout will allow us to recover areas for salt meadows.” Farmers and livestock breeders will be able to continue their work, providing they comply with the rules. These developments will be the last to be put in place, between 2023 and 2025. By then, the campsite will be in its new location, on a hill between the rue du Levant and the rue de la Saâne. Visitors will have a view looking over the valley. A pathway will be created to allow them to reach the beach, which will be a few hundred metres from their accommodation, just a little further than the few metres it is today.
These poplars on the new campsite will be cut down along with the ones planted in the poplar grove in Longueil.
