Trois-Ponts, nestled in the heart of the Belgian Ardennes in the province of Liège, is a municipality with three rivers and a rich geography, combining forests, valleys and villages.
Thanks to the success of his “Oser” list in the 2024 elections, Claude Legrand was elected mayor.
You became mayor of Trois-Ponts following the victory of the Oser list. Can you introduce yourself briefly and tell us about your journey so far?
I am 60 years old and married. I am the proud father of two wonderful daughters, aged 24 and 19. Originally from Trois-Ponts, I have spent most of my life there, except for two years when I lived in the neighbouring municipality. I really enjoy human contact and exchanges with others, which enriches my daily life.
In the end, I am a hands-on man, deeply attached to Trois-Ponts and its villages. I have always been a citizen engaged in local life, in associations, in projects of our schools and municipal services. My path naturally developed around a common thread: service to others. Before becoming mayor, I served two terms as alderman for public works.
With the Oser list, we wanted to embody a new way of doing politics: dare to listen, dare to act, dare to innovate. This is not just a slogan, it's a working philosophy. I have always believed that a municipality is built with and for its citizens, in trust, transparency and closeness.
Trois-Ponts is among the municipalities in Wallonia and Brussels where people “live best”, notably thanks to its exceptional environment. Is preserving this natural heritage a priority for you?
Absolutely. Preserving our natural heritage means preserving our identity. Trois-Ponts is a rare balance between nature, local and cultural heritage. We are lucky to live in an exceptional setting: it's up to us to protect it intelligently.
But it's not about freezing the landscape: preserving also means enabling sustainable and responsible development. We want to dare a practical and positive ecology on the ground not a punitive ecology, but an ecology of solutions. This means concrete projects: energy renovation of public buildings, sustainable management of our forests and municipal water network, support for local producers...
In short, protecting our environment means preparing for the future without holding back progress.
It's also a matter of respect for those who live here today and for the generations who will grow up here tomorrow.
What are the major challenges you want to tackle during this term? And how do you plan to approach them concretely?
The challenges are numerous, but they also bring opportunities.
The first is local attractiveness: attracting new families, supporting our businesses, making life easier for the self-employed, and strengthening the infrastructure that shapes daily life.
The second is education and youth, because investing in our children means investing in the future. We want to continue supporting our schools, nurseries, youth movements, and cultural and sporting activities.
The third challenge is closeness: strengthening the link between the municipality and its citizens through communication, participation and trust. During the campaign, I announced that I would carry out my term on the ground, as close as possible to citizens… We strive for that every day. Residents must “feel” the municipality living alongside them.
Finally, there is the management of local tourism, which should be an opportunity, not a burden. We must dare to strengthen the framework to aim for responsible tourism, respectful of residents and our daily life.
In practice, our method is clear: listen, plan, act, evaluate. No empty promises, but achievable projects, carried collectively.
If we were to spend a day in Trois-Ponts, what activity would you recommend, and why?
I would without hesitation recommend starting with a walk along our rivers and forests, as they embody who we are: residents deeply rooted in nature, at the confluence of paths and energies. Then, a stop at one of our craft shops or local producers, to discover the sense of hospitality and conviviality we are proud of.
And then I would say: take your time. In Trois-Ponts, everything invites you to slow down, breathe, and share. Between heritage, culture, sport and gastronomy, everyone finds their happiness. That is the charm of our municipality: an authenticity that isn't told, it's lived.