Last
night we went to the village ceremony Les Voeux when everyone is
invited to come along and receive New Year wishes from the mayor and
commune councillors. It’s always very well attended and is an
opportunity to wish “Happy New Year”, “Bonne Année, Bonne
Santé, Meilleurs Voeux” to everyone that you might not have
encountered since the New Year. After speeches from the Mayor, and
representatives of other local organisations and funders, like the
ComCom (a grouping of local communes) everyone is invited to have a
drink – always featuring our own cider from Chamberet and nibbles
and cake. It is always very convivial.and everyone listens in
silence without talking (most standing up) for about an hour.
For
Chamberet this is also the occasion when the Mayor details changes
and developments from the previous year and he talks about
forthcoming projects. We have a new mayor since last year, Bernard
Rual, so it was also an opportunity for him to present himself to the
public of Chamberet in his new role as mayor. Everyone was impressed
with his speech, and with the number of new and continuing projects
presented. I think we’ve remembered them all:
-
Provision of 12 apartments in the former presbytery next to the church – for older people who do not want to go into the Maison de Retraite (Nursing Home) but want to give up their current accommodation (often a large house and often in an isolated place out of the village).
-
New estate for artisans (local craftsmen)
-
Perfume factory expanding with an increase in jobs
-
Work on New Health Centre/Maison de Santé which has been planned since 2012, due to start March 2018, to be finished by year-end. There will be 10 different health practitioners in this building.
-
Plots for new build all sold and three to be let to Uzerche Prison for families of three officers employed there
-
New building plots to be identified and sold
-
High-speed internet connection to be brought to whole commune. Work in progress to clear/tidy up trees on roadsides as will be provided via telegraph poles.
-
A new communal room to be created in the cellars of Maison Roux which will also utilize this heritage feature and be available for use by the 40-odd community groups in the village.
Other
good news was that the population had increased by 40 last year,
which of course helps the local economy, also the primary school, as falling
numbers mean a reduction in teaching staff.
Our
ex-mayor and local gp, Dr Chasseing, who is now a Senator, then spoke
and gave an update on work he has been involved in and supported in
the Senate He also notified us that the population in Chamberet now
stands at the same level as in 1946 (think I got that right!).
Another innovation is that we now have a new label for provision of
fishing. (I can’t remember the actual title) which will help with
other labels eg Station Verte to help promote tourism, of major
economic importance to us as a very rural area.
So,
there we have it – a busy, exciting year ahead for us in this
commune – this commune dynamique - the envy of many other communes in the area, I might add!
©
Marie Tyler, 30 January
2018
