The recent decision by the government to launch a prison renovation and construction plan included the necessity of a new facility in Nice to replace the current one, which is outdated and no longer meets required standards.
While, at least unofficially, a recommendation points towards the Iscles area in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, Christian Estrosi takes an opposing stance: he opts for the complete renovation of the current site.
This position is opposed by the association Les Clés du Champ, formed mainly by local residents who do support renovation, but a renovation of their neighborhood, free from the prison!
In a press release about Nice’s detention center, the president of the Nice Côte d’Azur metropolis stated: “The position I have been defending from the beginning is in favor of restructuring the prison at its current location.”
— ) The former mayor of Nice has not always supported on-site reconstruction as he claims. Here is the proof:
- 28/08/2009:
While he was there to launch the construction of the new Paillon footbridge near the prison, Christian Estrosi, at that time the industry minister, expressed his satisfaction by stating: “The government has made a definitive decision. It has recognized the need to relocate the Nice detention center. It is no longer necessary. We must move on, regardless of some people’s sentiments.”
(Nice Matin, 30/08/2009)
- 23/11/2009:
A few months later, when the Ministry of Justice did not rule out the possibility of on-site reconstruction if no other land was found, Nice Matin headlined: “The hypothesis of on-site reconstruction is categorically rejected by Christian Estrosi” and laid out the mayor of Nice’s arguments in favor of relocation.
(Nice Matin, 23/11/2009)
- 10/06/2011:
Two years later, the mayor of Nice reinforced his point: “My position on the subject has never changed. There is an unspeakable prison in Nice that I want to see disappear.”
(Nice Matin, 11/06/2011).
— ) Christian Estrosi proposed building the new prison on the Auvare barracks site before opposing it, only to eventually return to the idea!
Christian Estrosi has just responded to the letter from the Minister of Justice: “Regarding the sites identified at Auvare and Saint Roch, I see no reason why a prison couldn’t be built there; there is enough space at these locations” (Nice Matin, 1/09/2016). He seems to have forgotten what he declared about the Auvare site three months earlier in Nice Matin (edition of 16/05/2016): “There isn’t enough space to build a penitentiary facility that meets current standards,” while admitting in passing: “An overcrowded prison like the one in Nice causes noise nuisances for the neighbors.”
In a letter dated March 2015, Christian Estrosi had already written to us: “I have clearly indicated to the Government my opposition to the installation of a detention center on the Saint Roch train station land and on the former Auvare barracks site.”
Indeed, Christian Estrosi’s positions on this matter seem very difficult to pin down!
Philippe Hiller, president of the association Les clés du champ
