Thousands march in protest at new A69 motorway in south-west France

Protestors opposed to the A69 Castres to Toulouse motorway. April 22, 2023
Protestors opposed to the A69 Castres to Toulouse motorway. April 22, 2023   -  Copyright  LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP or licensors
By Euronews  with AFP

French environmental protestors gathered in south-west France to show their anger at a new motorway plan they say will generate more pollution while also destroying natural habitats.

In south-west France, thousands of opponents of a new motorway set off along the planned route of the proposed road.

Organisers estimated four thousand eight hundred people marched on Saturday. The proposed A69 will run from Toulouse to Castres. The demonstrators, some chanting “fewer cars, less tar” say the motorway plan is wrong as the world faces a climate emergency.

Environmental activists say the road scheme will destroy 2,500 trees and surrounding habitats.

Close police surveillance was expected as the government feared protestors might stage sit-ins along the route.

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