Monday 15 August 2016

Don't panic, don't panic says Corporal Jones

Hi Val,

Actually, it's the prefecture who have asked for the barriers. People should be aware that France is on a high state of alert after the terrible attack in Nice.

Would people prefer a state of security, which although it doesn't look too pretty for the tourists, does provide a safety barrier in case some deranged person decides to drive into a crowd of happy shoppers?

Or would they prefer to be mown down by a truck? 

And don't ever think it couldn't happen here.........because that's what they thought in Nice!

Ann
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Malc says 
Presumably the Prefecture asked maires to make a risk assessment and although an attentat could happen anywhere, St Antonin has virtually no Islamic immigrant population. I would imagine the great Atlantic or Mediterranean coast holiday centres, with thousands of holidaymakers would be a more likely target. Bear in mind pretty well all the attacks have been from locally raised people, who lived in large populations of immigrants. To link the traffic controls with any significant risk seems over the top - though not unthinkable.

Chris Bond says
Ohh la la first post on here although I very much appreciate following all the news!!!  Yes security measures may seem over the top but I am sure we would all be the first to complain if anything happened.  Having relocated from London 8 months ago I appreciate the need to be cautious but still live life.  Although barriers may seem a pain France has been targeted and I'm all for the better safe than sorry approach - and if it meant an extra 15 meter walk for my delicious Sunday lunch at the Gaz my lunch, company and good wine all for 23 euro for 3 courses more than made up for that!!!   I'd have been lucky to get a decent bottle of wine for that in London.  I have every confidence in my local French community and the Prefecture to do what they see as appropriate.

Richard says
I think Ann people do know France  is on a high state of alert !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Prefectures anal knee jerk reaction ,makes it easier for terroists,barriers do nothing but herd people into one place,and make it more difficult to leave if there was a problem!Barriers are purely cosmetic and just annoy people,you carnt put them everywhere.Anyone who feels safer for there presence is living in LaLa land.

Sam says
The barriers look like a protection for pedestrians from the traffic, rather than a security measure for terror threat, against which they would be no use at all. I have often thought that during the summer months it would be advisable to pedestrianise the main street for the market and arrange better parking on the outskirts of town.


Hi Ann, 
It's just a case of a colloquial mairie in a virtually unknown county attempting to be important. The barriers are dangerous more than anything else, think about it.....
Laura