During the latest city council meeting, numerous files were deliberated upon. Among them were the renewal of the District Councils, the preliminary budget for 2006, and the future Grand Stadium. The latter sparked a heated debate.
A beautiful stadium, admitted Patrick Mottard, a city councilor (PS), yet he wanted to point out some remarks. After waiting for Mayor Jacques Peyrat to give him the floor, the socialist councilor then launched into a speech in his own style. Initially, he highlighted a detail: out of the four contenders for the construction of the Grand Stadium, two did not comply with the law or the specifications, he explained: one having abandoned along the way, and the other failing to submit the dossier on time.
This ultimately brings back to two the number of “potential candidates”. As usual, Patrick Mottard does not hesitate to speak his mind: “The final choice follows after a curious procedure, or rather, a procedure dotted with quaint incidents. It’s telling that, at this ‘stage’, the procedure was unproductive.”
The chosen project: that of the Cari-Spada group. And again, he does not mince his words. Based on the past, the head of the opposition denounces that the Spada group had previously encountered legal issues for financial reasons. “The executives were even placed in custody…” He, therefore, wanted to call for vigilance in this matter. Shocked, the mayor defends Mr. Spada: “For me, when a man is not convicted, he is presumed innocent. What you say is shameful!”
Money does not buy happiness!
Another difference in appreciation, but this time on a more sensitive issue: the financing of the Grand Stadium. Robert Injey, also an opposition councilor (PC), was outraged by it. During the session, he tried in vain to make his case. Abruptly interrupted by Jacques Peyrat, he had to stop protesting. This prohibition, however, did not prevent him from expressing his viewpoint on the same day: “In 2001, there were two initial projects. The first envisaged accommodating up to 22,000 people. It would have cost €40,000,000. The second, proposed a capacity of 30,000 people, for a value of €53,000,000.”
After this quick flashback, he demonstrates the enormous difference compared to the final choice that appeared in 2005. It is this exact project that the mayor wishes to see realized. This Stadium will be able to accommodate 30,000 people. The price of the works reaches €90,000,000. “Operated by a private company, for 30 years, this Stadium will therefore come at a high price. It’s excessive! I think it’s a gift Jacques Peyrat is making to Cari-Spada.”
At this point, Robert Injey worries: “Where will the mayor find the necessary funds to finance such a project? Until 2007-2008, I think he will not increase taxes because elections are approaching. But what about after? He will surely be forced to do so. Otherwise, another possibility: resort to borrowing. In any case, there will be a significant loss!”
This opinion is not shared by Jacques Peyrat. During the city council meeting, he was indeed confident that he had made the right decision: “I chose the Cari-Spada group because it seemed to me that the quality of its project was the best architecturally, even though the other was good as well. In my view, it’s the least cost for the city.” In his summary note, he explains, among other things, that the Cari-Spada consortium committed to completing the works two months before the date proposed by its competitor. And to further reinforce this choice, he noted that he had “thoroughly analyzed the report before deciding.”
But at the time of the vote, it was no use! The mayor tried in vain to persuade his opposition: united, they did not approve.
