Hospital to Get Green Heating

An important new project has started at CHU this week.The project is being seen as a pilot for other French hospitals and will see the establishment of a new “greener” heating system which is due to be in service by the end of the year. The ground works for the construction of the new boiler room started at the beginning of week on a ground of 1000m2. “At the beginning of 2006, we had decided to carry out an assessment of the heating system of Dupuytren”, explains Genevieve Lefêvre, associated general director of the CHU. “At the time we had the choice of a new system of treatment of bio hazardous that could be used to form part of our heating system. This would give a fall of 69% of the CO2 emissions. Environmental concerns opportunely reinforced by the publication of the decree envisaging a fall of VAT on energies of 19,6% to 5,5% for the companies producing more than 60% of their energy in ecofriendly ways meant the decision was virtually made for us. We can participate in the environmental protection plus have large energy savings”.

Rapist Charged

An inhabitant of Saint-Junien was arrested this week after being found guilty of sexually abusing a 26 year old handicapped woman. The victim alledges that the common law husband of her mother violated her for several years when the mother was absent from the place of residence.

The man is said to have abused the vulnerability of the young lady "to teach" her. This retired accountant who was previously unkown to the police has been held without bail pending trial.

Pharmacy Robberies

Repeated attacks on pharmacies in the region are believed to be the work of a specialized team of thieves. Two attempts at burglary took place at Ambazac on pharmacies at Pommaret and Boucheron during the night recently. On each occasion the thieves escaped empty handed. A break-in also took place in the pharmacy Glomont in Razès on the same night. This time the thieves took some cash which had been left in the till. Police investigations continue.

Wife Beater Jailed

A case of terrible domestic violence was heard at Brive magistrates court this week. Veyssel Bayram appeared charged with three counts of violence on his ex-partner and on his son, as well as making repeated death threats and hostile phone calls.

The 34-year-old man attacked his ex partner, last July, even though they had been separated since 2006. During the attack his ex partner was head butted in the face. In another attack one month later, the victim and her son (10), entered their appartment to find Veyssel sat waiting for them. He attempted to strangle her and repeatedly slapped her in the face. The child tried to intervene to defend his mother but was also held by the throat before being thrown to the ground. Although since that time Mr Bayram has been the subject of a restraining order, he continued to harass the woman and child, with constant death threats.

In his defense his solicitors said he had found it difficult to come to terms with the separation. He was given a 3 year sentence.

St Junien Improvements

In an attempt to improve St Junien's traffic congestion, new roadworks are to start at place Lasvergnas. The changes are designed to promote smoother movement of traffic with the abolition of the current traffic lights. The work will also provide improvements to the water networks, and street lighting. Contractors will be repairing the pavements, as well as creating flowerbeds, terraces and a cycle track. The cost of the works ,is expected to amount to 700.000 euro and will be part financed by the department to the tune of 151,000 euros.The works began at the end of February.

Lack of Ladies Loos at Gueret

Female staff at the detention centre of Gueret, have long since been overlooked when it comes to staff facilities. In the 90s new rules meant that female staff, working in penitentiaries, should legally be entitled to changing rooms and toilets independent from those of their male colleagues. The ladies at Gueret are still waiting. This week local representatives from the centre publicly denounced the absence of such facilities, the total cost of which is not believed to exceed 10.000 euros! Staff also spoke out against the threat of closure of the detention centres at Gueret, Tulle and Montluçon.

Trying Times for Tabacs

When the smoking ban was introduced, rural tobacconists were promised additional support by the President, but these promises are now starting to sound very hollow to many.

In the Creuse village of Parsac, with its 600 inhabitants, Florence Guichard is finding things increasingly difficult. She opened for business on July 1st, 2006, " Le relais de l’épicurien ", a ministore which she manages with her husband Philippe, and was inaugurated by Christian Estrosi. " Until December 31st, 2007, things had worked out perfectly and then came the smoking ban. We have now cancelled holidays and shelved all our proposed projects. The couple have seen a decline of 30%, at least, of the turnover. " It is spectacular, I would not have believed in it. We do not see any more the workers from construction sites, in the morning, and we ask the question: is it necessary to continue to open at 7 am in the morning? We had to close one week for the holidays of February, but we cancelled our holidays. And all our plans are on hold, " tells Florence.

On the other side of the RN 145, to Lussat, where you find the restaurant - Bar-tobacco of Laurence Loulergue and François Caon, it is the last business, for the 430 inhabitants. " My customers, I always saw them with a cigarette at the end of fingers, there is 98% which smoke. Then, suddenly, it is finished ", recalls Laurence, " especially in small villages such as here the ban, does not prevent people from smoking, but just breaks our business. No one comes any more, they meet at home."

New library for Saint-Julien-le-Petit

The sixth link on the reading network of the libraries of the Porte de Vassivière has just opened in the mairie of Saint-Julien- le-Petit. It currently has more than 300 books on its shelves. The service will be available during the usual mairie office opening hours. Books will be regularly renewed by the librarians of the Doors of Vassivière to meet with reader demand. Contact: mairie of Saint-Julien-le-Petit, 05.55.69.41.56 or the library of Portes de Vassivière, 05.55.69.21.69.