Category: Current Affairs

SOLDIERS are to be deployed to tourist attractions and towns in the Dordogne as security measures are maintained as part of the Opération Sentinelle plan to protect against terrorist acts.

The Préfet de la Dordogne has announced that 27 military personnel from the 94ème régiment d’infanterie de Sissonne, will patrol popular tourist areas and events over the next couple of months.

For the past few years additional security measures have been undertaken in the Dordogne, and across France, with the troops expected to be on patrol until the end of August.

Related: Travel to the Dordogne in summer 2020

THE French Ministry of the Interior has announced that it is postponing the re-launching of their residency permit portal from July to 1 October because of the impact of covid-19.

You can read their update here, and British citizens will not require a residency permit until 1 July 2021.

Roger Haigh, President of The Franco British Network, said: “Despite the delay in the opening of the online site for submitting residency applications we recommend that UK nationals begin to collect all the necessary documentation, in anticipation of the new date for the opening of the online site on 1 October 2020.”

The Franco British Network believes that UK nationals currently living in France will be required to submit five documents to support their applications:

1) Valid passport

2) Birth certificate

3) Proof of living permanently in France

4) Proof of income

5) Proof of healthcare

The Franco British Network is set to help UK nationals living in the Dordogne enabling them to take advantage of free assistance and directly ask questions.

You are able to ring 05 19 88 01 09 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between 9am to 1pm, and on Thursday and Friday between 1pm and 5pm.

THE French government has issued a decree on 16 March, 2020 with further measures to try to contain the spread of the Covid-19 Corona virus, writes Sharon Rees-Williams.

The main measure is to prevent people circulating and meeting, so that the contamination chain might be broken.

This measure came into force at noon on the 17 March, operating until at least the 31 March, 2020.

Local authorities (that is : the Préfet) can take more restrictive measures if needed (it is not the case in Dordogne at the current time but this could change).

The idea is to ask people to stay home, that is in their house, including terrace and garden, and avoid any contact with other people (including close friends and family), and circulating on public places (even in open air spaces).

There are exceptions aimed to allow people mostly to buy food and to have health care.

This is in addition to the previous instructions: washing hands very often, stay at a distance of at least 1 meter from other people, and protect your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing either with a disposable tissue (and then dispose) or with your elbow.

The fine for not following these rules will start at 38€, extending over time to 138€ if necessary. But of course, who wants to feel that they may have contributed to the spread of this virus, as people can host the virus and transmit it without presenting any symptoms at all.

The document below is intended to help you understand the restriction measures, and help assist you in completing the form you will need to take out with you every time you go outside.

This form can be printed, you can find it on the government site, whilst here is a copy of a French to English translation of the form for guidance (produced voluntarily).

Download Attestation déplacement COVID-19 french to english

SOLDIERS are to be deployed to tourist attractions and towns in the Dordogne as security measures are maintained as part of the Opération Sentinelle plan to protect against terrorist acts.

France Bleu Périgord reports that 26 military personnel, alongside additional gendarmes, will patrol popular tourist areas and events over the next couple of months.

This is the third year that additional security measures have been undertaken in the Dordogne, and the troops are expected to be on patrol until 2 September.

DESPITE protests from many, the legislation covering the reduction in the speed limit from 90 km/h to 80 km/h on routes départementales in France has been published and will come into force from 1 July, 2018.

Work is already underway to change the 11,000 road signs that will have to be replaced at a cost of around €12 million, with the the road safety department of the interior ministry claiming the measure should save between 300 and 400 lives every year.

Opponents say that the lower speed limit is unnecessary, based on incorrect analysis, and will make day-to-day life more difficult, others believe it is just a way for the government to raise more money through fines.

What are the speed limits in France?

Speed limits are clearly signposted at the roadside and they are:
· Built-up areas 50kph (possibly even 30kph)
· Ordinary roads 80kph
· Dual carriageways 90kph
· Toll autoroutes 130kph

Driving in France can be an enjoyable experience, with roads usually quiet in the countryside, but speeding and dangerous road conditions can cause accidents.

In 2017 there were 3,684 lives lost on French roads.

THE Dordogne authorities and local hunting associations have agreed on the number of larger wild animals that can be hunted for the 2018/19 season.

Sud Ouest reports that a minimum of 12,250 sangliers and a maximum of 18,200 can be killed. While for deer the number is a minimum of 16,600 and a maximum of 18,300.

Notice has also been given for the actual chasse period for the winter with the main season opening on 9 September and closing on 28 February 2019.

The reason given by the authorities for requiring such large numbers of animals to be killed is that they damage local crops and woodland.

WITH five deaths in a week, and 19 since the turn of the year, the Dordogne authorities are warning drivers to take care on the roads and stressing that gendarmes will be out on patrol.

A series of accidents in the past few days has prompted the préfète of the Dordogne, Anne-Gaëlle Baudouin Clerc, to advise people to take responsibility on the roads and that during this period of public holidays gendarmes will out on the roadside. (photo SDIS 24)

By Karen O’Reilly, Goldsmiths, University of London

The UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) has recently produced estimates of the number of British citizens living in the European Union (EU). The numbers, apparently, have declined from 1.22m prior to 2017, to “around 900,000” (Jan 2017), and more latterly to 784,900 (April 2018).

Meanwhile, our research has revealed that most informed commentators (academics, local government officials, consular offices, and others who work with the British abroad) understand numbers to have changed little since 2008, and that the correct, conservative, estimate is closer to 1.8m.

So, what is going on? Where do these estimates come from? And why does the drop matter?

According to the ONS, its estimates, which are reproduced widely by campaign and interest groups, academics, politicians and journalists, are published “in response to an increased user need for data about the people who may be most likely to be affected by the UK’s decision to leave the EU”. The ONS argues that the heretofore trusted United Nations data (source of the 1.22m estimate) are unreliable “high-level estimates” based on extrapolating out from census data. The ONS said in 2017 that it prefers to use “more detailed census data”, leading to the first, inadequately explained, reduction to 900,000.

(more…)

IF you have seen white, candyfloss like webs high in pine trees, keep a watchful eye on the ground for the pine processionary caterpillar.

It is at this time of year that the caterpillars head to woodland floors in search of a place to pupate and it is when you will see the characteristic long lines as they follow each other nose to tail.

And while that is a view of nature to behold, the Pine processionary caterpillar has a horrible ‘feature’, the small hairs on its back are poisonous and can be a terrible irritant if touched.

But cats and dogs are particularly at risk as the fine hairs can become embedded in the mouth, or stomach, and if not spotted quickly and dealt with by a vet, can prove fatal.

Beyond keeping your pets close to heel, there is little you can do to keep the caterpillars at bay. Professionals will use blow torch apparatus to burn the insects, but the trees in a small area will play host to hundreds of nests.

So just keep an eye out between now and May for the Pine processionary caterpillar, stay clear of pine trees if you are worried, and let the beasties progress on their way.

BE warned, if you take your dog for a walk on the streets of Périgueux and fail to pick up its poo then you face a fine of 68 euros.

The local council has had enough of cleaning the streets, with highways staff picking up around 100 kg of poo each day and it costing €100,000 a year to deal with.

The mairie in Périgueux will provide small plastics sacks to pet owners so they can pick up after their dogs, otherwise if you fail to do so then you will have to pay a 30 euro fine and a 38 euro legal cost.