Pau: Residents occupy the new Square des Anglais

As usual, the audience was multi-generational. “Mornings and afternoons, we always take care of children with small children. College students come after class. And Wednesday at the end of the week…

As usual, the audience was multi-generational. “Mornings and afternoons, we always take care of children with small children. College students come after class. And on Wednesdays, weekends and school holidays there are always tweens and teenagers at the basketball court,” says Gillhem, who lives in the neighborhood. Not to mention the old people sitting on the benches. Like Armandina, Fijlisma and Alice. Three friends each live at one end of the square. “We don’t come every day, sometimes we go to one or the other or we walk. But, finally, we are there several times a week,” says Armandina, praising the new cleanliness of the place.

“We are silent”

“The symbiosis between families and dogs is no longer so easy”, Mayor François Peyrou has not forgotten. Sharing space between families with children and off-leash dogs, play area and dog waste was problematic. Also, complaints and petitions are increasing due to noise and encroachment due to two-wheelers plying in the evening or at night. In 2019, residents petitioned for “shared and harmonious use” of the square.

Today, the dogs frolic in a slightly lower enclosure. The rest of the square, on the other hand, is off limits to our little four-legged friends. ” That’s a big thing. We are very quiet without dogs, without leftovers in the children’s play areas,” admits Perrin, who came with two-and-a-half-year-old Samuel.

Older children can take advantage of the new 3-a-side basketball court with a very soft surface to control noise. “You have to get used to the rebound, but it’s good to train,” praises Square’s neighbor Vincent. Enjoying the new facilities as a family. While Rabia trains on the machine, their 10-year-old son Leo moves from the basketball court to the playground.

Old Tram Station

During the opening ceremony, on Saturday afternoon, Mayor François Peyrou recalled the unique history of the site, which in 1900 hosted the department tram station. “Until 1930, people could go from Pau to Lembe thanks to this mode of transport,” he explained. The site hosted allotment gardens until the 1950s, before school sports facilities for public schools and colleges were opened to the public.

Near the entrance, compost bins should be installed at the beginning of the year. The Department of Sustainable Development and Waste is looking for people who want to be involved in this project. To provide tanks, 40 to 50 residents and four site references are required.

The Square des Anglais is now under the supervision of a caretaker, Loïc, who already has many ideas to “animate the life of this park”, such as the loan of sports equipment or the creation of a shared garden.

To participate in joint composting, contact 05 59 14 64 30 or [email protected]