Charles Ange Ginésy, Eric Ciotti, and David Lisnard gathered yesterday afternoon at the CADAM to denounce the behavior deemed disrespectful of the company Escota Vinci Autoroutes towards motorists, local and national taxpayers, and demanding that the State assume its responsibilities as a conceding authority.
“Escota Vinci Autoroutes must stop treating motorists like cash cows: it is up to the State to assume its responsibilities and stand up to the powerful highway company lobby in the general interest of users.”
These are the words of Eric Ciotti, Deputy, President of the Finance Commission of the Department of Alpes-Maritimes, yesterday, alongside Charles Ange Ginésy, President of the Department of Alpes-Maritimes and David Lisnard, Mayor of Cannes
For several years, the Department has declared that it observes that transportation is a major difficulty for the inhabitants of our territory.
“During our assembly on October 12, I proposed adopting a motion concerning the A8 and its concessionaire, the company Escota, to reiterate our requests for structuring and necessary improvements for travel within our territory,” declared Charles-Ange Ginésy.
“Unanimously adopted, this motion recalls the urgency of the needs in the projects initiated by the Department such as the Mougins interchange, the Cannes la Bocca ramp, and the development of the Tourrades interchange. Also included in this motion are funding for the dynamic speed regulation system and, a major issue, the recurrent demand for free bypassing of Nice as is the case for all the ring roads of major French cities. “
More than a month and a half later, it is clear that ESCOTA has not deemed it fit to respond to this motion and the specific requests formulated by the Department.
More seriously, concerning the operation of the Cannes La Bocca / Les Tourrades ramp, David Lisnard received a letter at the end of the week with completely unacceptable content.
The Mayor of Cannes explained that there is currently a lobbying effort by highway companies. “There is collusion at the top of the state allowing concession companies to exempt themselves from contracts and specifications.” (…)
“An amendment aimed at making the passage of emergency services on the highway network free was even rejected! Lobbying is stronger than the common interest,” concedes Eric Ciotti. “This must stop! These companies must meet their obligations and prerogatives and stop asking taxpayers to pay what is due to them,”. More seriously, David Lisnard asserts that the misleading arguments of the State are copied verbatim from those of Escota!
