about two weeks ago, early in the morning, a young man appeared and asked that I open wide my shutters to let his tractor through. It was during the heat wave and the shutters are generally open a little and closed a lot to let the air through but keep the heat out. So they make a triangle into the impasse where I live.
Ever obliging, I did as asked.
Since then the tractor has been up and down like a yoyo on a tiny road not fitted for traffic. Whatever fuel drives it is toxic so the windows have to be closed all the time. Heaven knows what they are building on the edge of the field - it is in the garden of an uncommunicative neighbour - they've demolished one building and are constructing another. The dirt and noise starts early, breaks for lunch, carries on all afternoon.
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| Tiny impasse can be seen in the middle towards the right - now access to a building site |
They frighten the parrot.
The workmen are just doing a job. I know most of them and they are decent folk. What I don't get is how the neighbour got permission to do what he's doing. It seems that the field belongs to a school friend of his and that whatever he does there is OK.
Toby and Leo are badly affected as is everyone in the impasse - we were never consulted.
You ll it an Impasse but legally it's on city records as Rue...I don't think they can legally block a 'rue' asa they are doing.
ReplyDeleteI really would ask the mayor about the proposed construction and (approved?) destruction... Were you full French, you would have wanted more information and proof that it was ALL legal.
I don't think the workers would object if you raise questions. They will be paid by the hour so if things are held up, it just means longer employment for them. Here's the official listing of street, impasses, etc:
http://www.annuaire-mairie.fr/rue-esperaza.html And elsewhere on the website you can request (with payment) information of who owns what, who is planning what, and more. Since they are not doing solely agricultural work there may be legal limits on what heavy equipment can be used in a residential area. Since you own property there, you might talk with the person who was involved in the purchase, they might have useful information. Things you can cite as concerns are: Drains...if there are no workable drains for whatever they're planning, what sort of permits will be required? (hope they're pricey, the permits). If the older building was completely removed then the permits for the old place won't work. Do ask a property agent if it's zone agriculture or residential (or ask at the mayor's.
This is for another location but it spells out laws & their applications concerning public roads:
http://fontenayplateau.net/TEXTEINTEGRALREGLEMENTDEVOIRIE.HTM
And you can seldom go wrong by praising the French legal codes which are actual codes, and not laws built upon 'common law' as in England. And if the man having the work done on the field is NOT from Esperaza, then one must protect the local interests. Good luck.
Many thanks!!! What a trove of information...will let you know what happens next though for the moment all seems to have ceased. Tractor still there though.
DeleteHi there, just to let you know--- shortly after this post work ceased. Nice. But of course, it was the holidays :) It began again and I started to moan at the workers who kept saying tomorrow would be the last day. I heard one of them on his mobile outside my window asking to be paid in cash, hah - and shortly after, it did end.They have been access the uncommunicative neighbours back garden and doing something there which is surely legal as he is a retired flic from Paris (I know his mum) Don't you miss France????
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