La Chapelle Au Riboul, a village in transition
France
Introduction
In the rural commune of La Chapelle Au Riboul, the municipal council, totally renewed in the last elections in 2020, is beginning a reflection on cooperation and citizen participation. It’s about co-building the commune project, working with the entire population, and not seeing elected officials as “knowing everything.” The aim is to draw up the outline of a land-use plan, a kind of compass that sets out the guidelines for the coming decade, as part of an eco-citizen and sustainable development approach, in line with Agenda 21. “Our reflection is conducted in cooperation to reflect together on the future of our village, its attractiveness, its development and our ecological transition.”
Presentation of the project
In the rural commune of La Chapelle Au Riboul, the municipal council, totally renewed in the last elections in 2020, is beginning a reflection on cooperation and citizen participation. It’s about co-building the commune project, working with the entire population, and not seeing elected officials as “knowing everything.” The aim is to draw up the outline of a land-use plan, a kind of compass that sets out the guidelines for the coming decade, as part of an eco-citizen and sustainable development approach, in line with Agenda 21. “Our reflection is conducted in cooperation to reflect together on the future of our village, its attractiveness, its development and our ecological transition.”
Le caractère emblématique du projet
La revitalisation des bourgs se trouve au
The emblematic character of the project
The revitalization of the towns is at the heart of the Haute Mayenne LAG’s strategy: it is to promote commercial, craft and medical recovery, to build social ties, to develop attractive public spaces, to facilitate mobility by promoting sustainable modes of transport… It aims to spread out by showing the possibilities for a village of 500 inhabitants to take an eco-citizen approach and begin its transition. 500 inhabitants invited to reflect and participate on the future of their municipality. With the will to emphasize the need for partnerships, cooperation and mutualization with other municipalities. The aim of this operation is to be a laboratory for experimenting with participatory democracy in rural areas and to serve as an example for other territories. After several study trips, municipal elected officials are fed by several very inspiring examples such as the town of Kingersheim, a pioneer in participatory democracy to lead its ecological transition, or other experiences in rural areas in the Creuse or Drôme. Today, the municipality enjoys media support because it is positioning itself as a “pilot” on the pooling of resources while retaining its identity. “We are a small drop that says it’s possible!”
Pictures
Commune de La Chapelle Au Riboul
GAL Haute Mayenne
Pays de La Loire
