Not everything was simple: interlocutors not always talkative, and those who are talkative are not necessarily the most involved. Journalism students have learned the challenges of their profession. The very suitable result is available on the blog: https://meltinpost.zeblog.com.
Jérôme Guedj’s editorial, entitled “A project in kit form,” outlines the contours of the issue: “For two years, IKEA has wanted to set up in Mougins, in the Saint-Martin Concerted Development Zone. The Swedish company has nineteen stores in France. So why is it having so much trouble establishing itself in the Azurian territory? Because of urban planning and environmental issues. Amid controversy, it is a true political battle led by André Aschieri (Greens), mayor of Mouans-Sartoux, and Richard Galy (UMP), mayor of Mougins.
The Mouans-Sartoux resident fears asphyxiation due to pollution caused by traffic.
The Mougins resident, on the other hand, wants to develop this setup by balancing environmental respect and economic benefits. These benefits play an important role in this project. The project, significant for the artisans, also causes anxiety for its direct competitors. Richard Galy remains calm. The yellow and blue brand should be able to welcome its first customers by 2009. A project which, if it succeeds, will have been delivered in kit form.”
All aspects are covered: political with the conflict between two mayors of opposing tendencies, economic with the presentation of the IKEA group and its success in all its endeavors, purely informative with the explanation of the procedure to follow for such an installation, ecological and associative without forgetting to give the floor to all stakeholders, including the competitors of the Swedish furniture group. The dossier is exhaustive and well-handled despite the difficulties recounted by Damien Allemand, one of the editors: “We had a hard time interviewing the managers of the Ikea store. They don’t want to communicate, everything is secret and the employees don’t seem to know much about their boss. Unlike the municipalities and associations which played along widely.” As for the continuation of the IKEA controversy, its conclusion will be reached in 2007 even if currently it seems complicated, an impression also felt by Damien: “In terms of the relations between the two town halls and associations, everyone is sticking to their positions and trying to make the other out to be the big bad. The dialogue is seemingly closed, but discussions continue. IKEA will settle in the Alpes-Maritimes no matter what. The choice of site, in Mougins, is bad. Only 500m from the city center of Mouans-Sartoux. With the current state of roads and land development, it’s impossible. But it’s the result of the public inquiry (early 2007?) that will provide the first answers.”
