Alpcity

Local endogenous development
and urban regeneration of small alpine towns

Summary:



WP7 Franche-Comté Region

Enhancing the image of the longitudinal axis in the Jura mountains


Case-project abstract

In 2000-2001 a study revealed that the longitudinal axis in the jura mountains had to be improved and enhanced. In order to achieve it, recommendations were made. This will represent a tool for the decision-making process for local authorities (such as the municipalities along the road)

The recommendations are:

  • Facilitating the North/South road links in the area
  • Improving user's and resident's safety
  • Reducing noise pollution and other nuisance due to the traffic
  • Enhancing the environmental and lanscape assets of the area
  • Contributing to a better identification of the mountains and the region
Reasons for the choice of this case-project
  • Action identified in the programme scheme of the Conférence transjurassienne in 1999 : significant tourist flows go through or along the Jura axis, a joint strategy, which would strenghen the attractiveness of the mountains, became a priority of the Conférence Transjurassienne
  • Also planned in the objectives of the Regional Scheme "Franche-Comté 2005": forecast document which plans the main issues for spatial planning in the long term and at a regional scale

Adopted methodology

  • Informing potentiel project actors
  • Leading pilot operations
  • Guaranteeing the operations of arrangements and development
  • Promoting project engineering
  • Propositions for the implementation of a communication tool around the axis

Expected benefits (local and regional levels)
  • Supporting the tourist and economic development of the Jura Mountains via quality arrangements
  • Actions at a intermunicipal level, the region guide them to gain territorial cohesion

Are follow-up activities foreseen ?
  • A Sterring Committee (meetings once/twice per year)
  • A Technical Committee (meetings once/twice per year)
  • Work meetings every 2 months

Expected value added (other than financial) from the participation to an INTERREG project
  • Networking of municipalities
  • Carrying out pilot experiences which can be transferrable
  • Enhancing the image of the operations of arrangements and development

Expected transnational exchange benefit gained from the case

(Cases should not tackle exclusively local problems. Where in the whole Alpine Space Programme area can si milar problems be found? And where can good practice be found?)

Enhancement of experiences as far as urban arrangement is concerned, in order to transfer good practices to future projects


Output indicators
  • 4 pilot cases on the urban environment theme
  • Creation of a set off guidelines for the cities, which give them some advice and recommendations to follow during all the project
  • 2 publications about the project and its outcomes
  • Several studies of local projects on the area of jura mountains
  • Assistance to the cities in their urban projects: putting together administrative and financial documents, studies
  • 2 or 4 meetings to explain the project
  • 1 feasibility study to find communication tools for the Jura mountain

Impact indicators
  • Homogeneity of the arrangements along the road
  • Quality of the arrangements
  • Level of services thanks to the implementation of the communication and promotion tool of the axis

Name of the town/s concerned

See map

Départements of Doubs, Jura

Towns concerned: Les Fins, Malbuisson, Montbéliard, Morteau, Maîche, Pontarlier, Pont de Roide, St Claude, St Laurent en Grandvaux, Villers-le-Lac, Voujeaucourt...


Demographic, social and economic situation of the town/s concerned and specifically identified problems

The towns concerned are located at the frontier, therefore many inhabitants of the areas work in Switzerland. As a result there is a lower unemployment rate than the regional and the national average. Moreover many Swiss people go shopping in those towns.

However this effects the level of company creation and few efforts are made in the tourist sector.


Role of the mountain resource within the local development chances of the town/s concerned (positive or negative)

There is active "green" tourism thanks to the environmental inheritage and the proximity of low mountain has enabled to develop hiking and tourist activities.

The agricultural and industrial production (i.e. industrial and food processing know-how as well as horology) can be put in the foreground thanks to the actions.


Expected contribution of the foreseen actions towards the development of the town/s concerned

By enhancing the image of village and town crossing, this may lead to improving the tourist activity and maintaining population in the areas concerned.

This can attract tourists beyond the major road axis and lead them to small villages, etc.

This may also encourage people to seek jobs in Franche-Comté and not in Switzerland.


Who is the responsible for the concrete development of the project?

Franche-Comté Region: Spatial planning dept.


How are activities sub-contracted? ? (if it is the case)

A research consultancy, which will lead the technical, administrative and animation activities was chosen by a European open invitation to tender, on February 20th 2004.


Beside the partner, which administrative authorities are involved in the project? How?

Départements of Doubs and Jura, State decentralised services, towns along the axis, Conférence Transjurassienne


Who are the main local/regional project actors?
  • Groups of municipalities
  • The natural Parc of Haut-Jura, Pays Horloger, Pays du Haut Doubs, Aire Urbaine
  • Regional and Departmental Committees of Tourism
  • Conférence Transjurassienne (French-Swiss)

The case is isolated or integrated within a broader frame/ programme of activities?

It is integrated into the regional Scheme "Franche-Comté 2005" and into the programme of the Conférence Transjurassienne. (theme "spatial planning")


How? How are these activities being financed?

Franche-Comté: 156,500 €

Europe (Interreg III B) : 156,500 €


Timetable for the project development (July 2004 - May 2006)

May 2004-May 2006


Total cost for the case (Euros)

313,000 €


Are experts (non SSC) involved into the case and research activities undertaken for the case? What is their role?
  • Research consultancy: Algoë
  • An independent consultant
  • A town planner
  • A communication agency





e-mail: alpcity@regione.piemonte.it