Lot-et-Garonne: the other lake fiercely defended by the president of the Chamber of Agriculture Serge Bousquet-Cassagne

The shock of words, the weight of metaphors. “This story is the perfect illustration of the mistakes of state agents in their relationship with their constituents: claims in threat letters to terrorize, no explanation or justification[…]”. In the March 2023 agricultural newsletter, Serge Bousquet-Cassagne recounts what he calls “yet another incredible episode of the Caussade lake”. He returned to it at length on Wednesday during the session of the Chamber of Agriculture.

Built several years ago, this 1 ha (13,000 m2) pleasure lake is located in Bajamont. The president introduces the story thus: “A couple has been harassed since 2020 by the water police”. The latter “ordered him to partially drain his lake and to carry out emergency work and above all to have a risk study carried out at their expense for 12,000 euros. The widowed owner has just received an injunction from the prefect ordering her to carry out a risk study under penalty of a daily fine. The owner wishes to sell this lake.

“A used car that hasn’t passed the roadworthiness test will have a hard time being sold”

On site, Serge Bousquet-Cassagne saw a “functional spillway which allows the water level to be kept in compliance with regulations, a stable dam”. “Yes, he said, there are some trees present and a sediment-clogged drainage structure, but that doesn’t make it a dangerous structure.”

Clearly stating in the preamble that there had been no threat from the services, the prefect Jean-Noël Chavanne recalls that the lady had been warned of her situation and that she had been offered the help of the services. “She preferred to play ostrich politics. She didn’t come for the letters. She waited until the last moment. I know this lady has been upset by her husband’s death, but she is preparing a fortune. It is best when you are planning to sell your property that it is in order. She was not taken into consideration.” And take the following picture: “A used car that has not passed the technical inspection will have a hard time being sold”

Serge Bousquet-Cassagne does not move: “Someone at DTT poisoned you, Mr. Prefect, and made you make the wrong decision. She lost her husband, it’s kind of normal that she didn’t open the letters. You need to watch who you are talking to. If you talk to me there’s no problem but if you talk to someone who isn’t used to it he falls like a cleaver”.
«It is at the time of the sale that we take stock of the situation and it is clear that the fact of not obeying a rule exposes you to fines, replies the prefect. This lake has not been maintained. There is still some work to be done, we will accompany the need whenever the lady asks for advice. She will have them sold on honest and fair terms”.

According to Serge Bousquet-Cassagne, all of this would have ended up escaping a possible buyer. The chamber of agriculture will still propose to buy this lake.