This week we head to Quévy, a border municipality on the doorstep of Mons, where rural life and local dynamism meet.
Between challenges linked to mobility, support for farmers and the development of new projects, David Volant, the new mayor, shares his vision and ambitions for the years ahead.
Is your political commitment the result of a long-standing calling, or rather the outcome of a gradual involvement over the years? Was becoming mayor of Quévy a goal you had had in mind for a long time, or was it an opportunity that arose naturally?
I first stood as a candidate in the municipal elections in 1999 (2000 elections), following a discussion with my lecturer at the Fucam in Mons. The importance of getting involved in my municipality was essential to me... Three terms in opposition, and then from 2018 to 2024 I became First Alderman, having launched an MR+ list.
In 2024, following a separation, I no longer wished to run, but voters backed the work carried out over 6 years and the desire for change... And so here I am, Mayor, determined to achieve what I want for Quévy.
Quévy is both a rural municipality and one close to a major urban centre like Mons. This balance between countryside and city brings opportunities, but also challenges, particularly regarding mobility, planning and employment. How do you intend to manage these issues to ensure harmonious development?
It's extremely complex, because these are indeed paradoxical situations. So we are mainly working on the possibility of maintaining the existing SNCB and TEC lines. We also have a social taxi service. In terms of planning, we will launch a municipal development scheme for our three centres listed in the Walloon development scheme: Givry, Genly and Aulnois.
Agriculture holds a central place in Quévy's identity, with many family farms and a strong attachment to the land. How do you intend to support this sector in the face of current challenges such as the ecological transition, land pressure or economic difficulties?
Supporting our farmers on a daily basis in Quévy means recognising their central role in the life of our municipality and their essential contribution to our food supply, our local economy and the preservation of our landscapes. Their work, often demanding and subject to numerous challenges, deserves our full attention and commitment.
This means concrete action: encouraging short supply chains to add value to their produce, protecting farmland from urbanisation, and supporting the shift towards more sustainable practices while respecting their realities.
By supporting our farmers, we also strengthen our food self-sufficiency and the balance of our rural ecosystem.
In Quévy, working alongside farmers means guaranteeing a prosperous and sustainable future for our countryside. Together, let's build strong local solidarity, where agriculture remains a source of pride and a pillar of our shared identity.
Our actions will focus on:
- Annual maintenance of farm tracks in consultation with farmers.
- A point of contact for administrative simplification.
- Support for local producers through the creation of a “Terre de Quévy” label.
- The organisation of regular meetings with the farming community.
- The revision and improvement of the Rural Charter for better living together.
- Encouraging environmentally friendly farming practices.
The vibrancy of local clubs and culture is a key element in residents' wellbeing. What are your plans to strengthen social cohesion and encourage civic participation? How do you see the future of local events and Quévy's heritage?
It's an essential vehicle for helping new residents integrate. The cross-cutting strategic plan focuses on:
- The creation of a cultural programme in partnership with local associations: “culture isn't something you make, it's something you are!”.
- Recognition of our cultural sites by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation and ADEPS.
- The continuation of sports vouchers, with an upward revision of the amount for the coming years.
- The organisation of a “Sports Gala” evening featuring the municipality's rising talents.
- The promotion of our sports clubs through the municipal newsletter, website...
- The possibility of twinning with other municipalities based on shared history, common interests or similar patterns of development.
Local associations and sports clubs in the municipality of Quévy play an essential role in the life of our community. True pillars of local dynamism, they offer spaces for meeting, sharing and personal growth for residents of all ages.
These structures foster social cohesion by bringing together new residents in particular. Thanks to a wide range of activities on offer, everyone can find an opportunity to get involved, whether through sport, culture, leisure or mutual support.
By supporting Quévy's associations and sports clubs, we help strengthen our municipality's social fabric and provide a rich, inclusive environment to live in. These local initiatives, often driven by committed volunteers, are a genuine force for boosting wellbeing and a sense of belonging to our community.
Taking part in or supporting these organisations means investing in the future of our municipality and in the happiness of its residents. Together, let's make Quévy a place where life is good, thanks to the energy and creativity of our local associations and sports clubs.
Our actions will focus on:
- The purchase and provision of various equipment for local associations.
- Raising organisers' awareness of accessibility for people with reduced mobility at events.
- Strengthening synergies between associations, as well as with the municipal administration.
- Maintaining subsidies for associations.
If someone were discovering Quévy for the first time, what places and experiences do you think are essential and make up the richness of the municipality?
I'd say the Chant d'Eole estate, the Béria festival, the Givry carnival, our marked footpaths, our well-known restaurants: l'Impératif d'Eole, la Ferme de Bonne Maman, le Dolce Vita, le Rancho Grill, ....