After nearly 45 years of athletic programming in Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas, a regional martial arts organization has withdrawn its classes following the implementation of a municipal fee structure. The decision affects approximately twenty youths who previously trained within the municipality.
Municipal Fee Triggers Departure
The decision to end classes in Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas stems from a 930-euro annual fee introduced by the local government for external associations utilizing municipal facilities. Municipal leadership enacted the policy following municipal elections, applying the charge to any club whose headquarters are registered outside town limits. While the organization maintains its primary base in Saint-Christol-lez-Alès, it operates across multiple communities in the Alès basin, including Boisset-et-Gaujac, Anduze, Lézan, Salles-du-Gardon, and Cendras.
Club Response and Impact on Families
Club leadership expressed frustration over the newly introduced costs, noting that the organization operates on a modest scale and that absorbing the charge contradicts their objective. During the previous season, the site served roughly twenty children, with 80 percent residing directly in Saint-Hilaire-de-Brethmas. Up to this point, the municipality had provided training spaces without charge, a practice accompanied by outreach where a nationally certified instructor delivered free judo introductions in local schools.
Rather than contest the town’s preference for local organizations, the club’s administration opted to relocate operations entirely, citing a lack of dialogue regarding their specific situation. Organizers noted that families now face a choice between traveling to the Saint-Christol-lez-Alès facility or dropping the activity. Representatives estimated that the added transit costs for parents over the course of a training year would match the 930-euro sum requested from the club itself.
Mayoral Rationale and Policy Defense
Mayor Gaël Mancuso defended the measure as a matter of administrative common sense and a fulfillment of campaign commitments to prioritize local entities in facility allocation. Local officials emphasized that financial adjustments are necessary across all departments to curb municipal expenditures. The administration suggested that the club could have established a formal local branch or updated its registration to comply with the updated local framework, pointing to other outside groups that adapted to the new regulations.
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