The long-running saga over plans to build a new airport in the west of France looks set to return to the political centre stage this weekend with the staging of a major demonstration. The French government backs the Great West airport project near Nantes, where Jean-Marc Ayrault was mayor before becoming prime minister in 2012. But despite losing their latest round of legal actions, opponents are determined to prevent the construction of an airport they say is 'pointless' and which will destroy the habitat of many species of flora and fauna. Jade Lingaard reports.
JustJust a month before important local elections in France, the bitter battle over the Great West airport in west France will once again return to the headlines this weekend as opponents stage another protest. Political figures such as Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Martine Billard from the hard-left Parti de gauche will be at the demonstration on Saturday February 22nd against the building of the airport at Notre-Dame-des-Landes, north-west of Nantes. The 'red hat' protest movement from Brittany is also set to be involved in the protest march and rally through Nantes, with one of its leaders Christian Troadec, the mayor of Carhaix, scheduled to appear.
