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News from around the region...
Dordogne
Early Warning
Beynac Bypass
The argument between the Dordogne council and the French state over the Beynac bypass project continues to rumble on with the bill now being estimated at 41.5 million euros for the halted scheme. Over the summer the département sent out a supplement to the Vivre en Périgord magazine, once more putting their views to the residents. In this, the breakdown of costs was split 26.5 million euros spent so far plus another 15 million euros to tear down the structures and return the sites to their original state. It is clear that this costly affair is far from over.
Developed by a team in the Corrèze, a smartphone app called Phyto’alerte tells local residents when orchards are being sprayed with pesticides in the Limousin and Dordogne so they can avoid exposure. Only recently launched, and supported by the regional health environment plan, the app is already being used by many communes and apple growers. Using a network of thirty windsocks, the app can estimate the spread of the pesticides based on information easily input by famers. While not reducing the volume of pesticides being used, the aim is to give residents 48 hours’ notice so they can avoid outdoor activities in the area thus reducing their exposure. You can download the app from your usual app store for free.
Les Vendanges
This year is set to be a challenging one for winemakers across the region. As well as implementing the social distancing measures required through the busy harvest season, the dry weather has meant that grape picking needed to start much sooner with the first vineyards around Bergerac beginning as early as 15 August, two weeks earlier than usual. In addition, the drought conditions have resulted in a loss of up to 25 per cent of the volume. With the spectre of a no-trade-deal Brexit which would slow traffic to the UK (an important market for French wines) as well as adding new tariffs, many wine-growers are facing a worrying winter.
www.livingmagazine.fr
