Environmentalists battle against new yachting marina on France's Atlantic coast
By PIERRE-YVES BULTEAU
After sixteen years and much deliberation and delay, the French state has finally given the green light for a marina to be built at Brétignolles-sur-Mer on the west coast of France. The surprise decision has re-ignited long-standing opposition to the scheme amid fears it will harm biodiversity on that section of coastline. Now protestors have set up a camp near the site and staged a peaceful demonstration. Pierre-Yves Bulteau reports.
Government approval for the construction of a new 915-boat marina off a beach at the little resort town of Brétignolles-sur-Mer on France's Atlantic seaboard has infuriated local people and environmentalists who say it will ruin an entire ecosystem. The proposal, which was first proposed 16 years ago, was finally given the green light by the French state over the summer anddiggers have already begun work on the site.
