Assesse, a rural municipality in the province of Namur, is an area with many assets: a well-preserved living environment, a rich cultural heritage and a strong identity. With Gilles Graindorge taking the helm of the municipality after the victory of “Assesse-La-Neuve” (ALN) and its alliance with “Acor+”, a new dynamic is taking shape. What are his plans for the coming years? What challenges does he want to tackle? A meeting with a determined mayor.
The major projects for the coming years will be the creation and development of a synthetic pitch at the Assesse football site and the renovation of its infrastructure, the repair of the rue de Lustin in Maillen and other roads in the municipality, starting with those that lead residents towards the CHU Mont-Godinne.
Other projects, such as the creation of a multipurpose hall for associations and residents, will be integrated into the new district of the Gendarmerie ZACC, another major project whose implementation we must oversee during this term.
We will consult with residents who wish to be involved, among other things, to discuss the future of certain projects of general interest.
These major and minor projects will be carried out through rigorous budget management, which will nonetheless have no impact on the residents of Assesse.
Despite three consecutive electoral victories, the ALN list has finally come to power, with you at the head of Assesse. What motivated you to get involved in politics and run for mayor? How do you see your role in municipal management?
We had to offer renewal from within our own ranks and propose a different vision. That's how I came to accept, with great pleasure, leading the ALN list. As lead candidate, the position of mayor could fall to me. In accepting that role, I was ready to take it on fully, with all the responsibility that entails. We achieved a very good result against the outgoing mayor's list. The task was not easy, but residents supported us massively, allowing us to win two additional seats on the municipal council.
Today, I see my role as the glue holding the college together, the interface between residents and staff members of the administration. It is essential to work in symbiosis with each of them in order to implement our policies, not just general directions, as effectively as possible.
The alliance between ALN and Acor+ made it possible to form a solid majority. How was this coalition built, and what are the main political priorities you want to put forward for the municipality?
Our majority came together very quickly, because we have a great many common or overlapping points in our political programmes. We immediately began by setting out the broad lines of the major projects. Some, already well advanced, could be launched straight away. Today we are moving in the same direction, and that is essential for the residents of Assesse.
The villages of Assesse are spread over a vast territory. How can mobility between the different areas be improved, and what projects are planned in terms of infrastructure and development?
Several slow-traffic route projects are under review and/or being carried out. However, given the large number of kilometres of roads, we note that we will need the support of our regional and federal partners to ensure mobility for everyone and safety for active users of our roads and paths. In terms of projects, the PCDR files for the Vicigal and slow-traffic routes are already underway. Nevertheless, they do not fully meet all the needs of our municipality.
With gems like Crupet, ranked among the most beautiful villages in Wallonia, Assesse boasts exceptional heritage. What initiatives do you want to put in place to preserve and promote this legacy?
Heritage is an integral part of our municipality, and we must do everything we can to preserve it. Several non-profit organisations and local structures are supported by the municipality so that regular maintenance can take place. In addition, several files with AWAP are underway to restore and maintain our religious heritage, among other things.
It is important to be able to organise or respond favourably to any initiative that helps people discover our current heritage and its history.
How would you describe your first months as mayor? What are your working methods for ensuring effective collaboration with the administration and the opposition?
After three terms as a municipal councillor (the first in the majority, the other two in the opposition), I can say that I am discovering the role and position within an executive body. I have learned to meet each person working within the administration and get to know them, in order to work as well as possible with each of them.
My daily presence at the municipality is a strength. It allows me to be in contact with everyone, every day. With the help of the general director, we have organised our collaboration to be as efficient as possible. My methods: effective communication, going out into the field whenever possible, and answering residents who ask me questions. Not answering makes no sense, but sometimes a little patience is needed.
Looking ten years ahead, what would the ideal municipality look like in your view? What major changes would you like to see achieved during your term?
The goal is to successfully carry out the projects we have set together with the college in the interest of all residents of Assesse. If that goal is achieved, we will have done a good job.
In ten years, I want Assesse to remain a place that is good to live in, where residents feel fulfilled and safe. I want our children to grow up in an environment suited to their educational, sporting and cultural needs.
I want to maintain essential services and even develop others, so that the people of Assesse can continue to live in our beautiful rural setting.
In short, I hope Assesse will be a reflection of happiness.
Happiness is being with someone you care about, in a place where you feel good, that you don't want to leave.