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Ahead of a long awaited report by the bird protection league (LPO) into the ecological impact of the proposed new A831 motorway, Domenique Bussereau has confirmed that the government will give the go-ahead for the project.

Speaking in the margins at a recent meeting of the general council of Charente Maritime, Bussereau confirmed that the 64km stretch of motorway that will link Rochefort to Fontenay-le-Comte (Vendee) will be built, after an advance report from the LPO confirmed that environmental conditions can be satisfied.

Even though the project will not appear in the national infrastructure plan until the end of the year, much of the public consultation has already been done, and the call could go out to construction firms soon for invitations to tender.

The study into environmental impact has taken several months and 100,000 euros to complete, and the final report by the LPO will not be published until the start of July.  It is expected to say that the waterways, wooded areas and natural meadows can be protected if certain design recommendations are followed, clearing the way for the project to become a reality.

Opponents of the project remain sceptical that it will ever be realised, saying that announcements like this have been made many times before, since the proposal was first launched in 1994.

You can get full details from the website of the Minister of Ecology website.

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