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According to local daily newspaper Sud-Ouest, there are some key developments to watch out for in 2010 in Charente Maritime:

1. Regional Elections - Current regional president Ségolène Royal (PS) will come up against Dominique Bussereau (UMP), the soon-to-be-former president of the Charente-Maritime general council and current French transport minister, in what promises to be an interesting battle for the region’s top position.  Voters will decide who will run the region for the next 6 years when polls open on the 14 and 21 of March 2010. 

2. Expansion at Port des Minimes - The project to enlarge the capacity of the La Rochelle port by up to 1,000 additional berths is awaiting the decision of the Charente Maritime prefecture.  Even if a favourable decision is forthcoming from the prefecture, funding needs to be found to make it happen, in a climate where all departments and councils are struggling for money.  A decision by the prefect is expected early in 2010.

3. Solar power station in Haute-Saintonge - Tourists will not be the only ones to benefit from the excellent sunshine hours in the region, when a huge solar power station is installed between Genétouze, Jonzac and Montendre by the end of 2010.  With almost 200 hectares of solar panels, this will be one of the largest of its type in France, with an investment by energy firm EDF of 36 million euros.  In addition, wind power is also set to become a more prominent theme over the next 12 months.

4. Autoroute A831 moves a step closer to reality - The much debated 64km of new motorway (dual carriageway) that will link Fontenay-le-Comte (Vendee) and Rochefort could move a step closer to reality, as the LPO (bird protection league) are due to complete their environmental study into the effects on the birds who inhabit the marsh areas that will be crossed by the new road.  The organisation has 7 months to report back their findings, which could have knock-on implications for projects of a similar ilk across France.

We’ve not seen a similar synopsis for other departments, but you can be sure that there will be progress in the high speed rail line projects, with two years of archaeological studies underway on the Tours to Bordeaux line (LGV SEA), and further studies underway to determine the final route of the Poitiers to Limoges line.

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