"We call Bagatelle, 'bugger all'," says Christopher Drew, a member of Court-Circuit, an association against the track, "we hope the préfet will say 'no' to this project." Drew worries that his house, which is 3 kilometres from the proposed circuit, will lose value once the project is completed. "I'm trying to sell my house but would hate to land someone in my position."

Michel Evrard, an ethno-botanist and executive of the Parc Naturel Régional Périgord Limousin where the circuit will be built, has concerns that Bagatelle will negatively affect the environment without providing much to the economy. "With the level of flora and fauna - biodiversity - that is found in this area, we don't have the right to pollute it," says Evrard. He states that park employees do not have the authority to make official decisions concerning the park's grounds, but that 78% are opposed to the Bagatelle project.

The objective of the day's demonstration, according to Court-Circuit's Olivier Maurice, was to show that opponents to the Bagatelle project were steadfast in their beliefs. "This is a very important decision," says Maurice, "we're here to show the préfet that we can mobilise, and are determined to take action. If the préfet gives a décision 'favourable', we will take more aggressive action than before."

By Colette Davidson