Not every day you’re 20 years old. This is the case of the Agglomeration of the Region of Compiègne, whose president Philippe Marini celebrated the anniversary, during the evening of greetings organized at the Venette sports hall.
“We find traces of a first grouping of municipalities in 1970 with the SIVOM which constituted a base on which we were able to build a bright future for the territory” recalls Philippe Marini, mayor of Compiègne.
The latter defines the ARC as “an investment agency for this same territory”. In 2004, this investment amounted to 30 million euros. In 2024, it reaches 70 million euros. At the same time, the debt per capita increased from €361 in 2004 to €267 in 2024. Making President Marini affirm: “We are investing much more, but better!”
Transport and environment
The ARC’s assessment of two decades: free urban and intermunicipal transport for users. From 3.7 million euros twenty years ago, the amount allocated is 8.9 million euros, making it possible to serve all the municipalities of the ARC. “Which represents an increase of around 65% of kilometers per year!” underlines Philippe Marini.
The agglomeration does not forget the ecological transition. Thanks to selective sorting, the quantity of household waste increased from 573kg per person in 2004 to 403kg in 2024. At the same time, the production of drinking water increased from 4.8 million cubic meters to 5 million, “an increase of 4%, while the population increased by 24%.
Job
12,000 jobs have emerged in the various areas of activity of the ARC, “which have expanded and multiplied”. Employment shows a positive result with 42,816 full-time jobs distributed among companies in the nineteen business parks.
The recent establishment of Matra Electronique in Bois de Plaisance involved the departure of its historic site in Lacroix-Saint-Ouen. Finally, this firm specializing in the manufacture of electronic modules intended for armaments will also keep its Lacroix site, due to the growth in current orders.
Town planning and equipment
The Compiègne-Margny Station eco-district is the main project. These developments by 2030 involve the widening of the railway hopper between the Pont Neuf and the Margny-Venette plain.
The implementation of ANRU 2 will allow the renovation of housing on avenue du Maréchal-Leclerc. But also the extensive renovation of the swimming pool-ice rink complex which will become an amenity of the Agglo.
President Marini looked back on the transformations of the last twenty years. He spoke of the rehabilitation of military sites after the departure of the different regiments. But also the construction of the Pont Neuf, and housing areas (i.e. 1,543 new housing units in 20 years).
Tributes to mayors
Mayor Romuald Seels was warmly applauded and supported, after his custody following a clash between him and a resident to whom he criticized the practice of motorcycle rodeo.
The mayor of Choisy-au-Ba Jean-Luc Mignard paid tribute to his two predecessors. Robert Pierret then his successor Jean-Noël Guesnier, mayor from 2001 to 2020, both died in 2024. “They were committed to the town for 31 years between them” underlined Jean-Luc Mignard. Their successor mentioned important projects such as the renovation of the Sainte-Trinité church, the construction of the Compiègne bypass viaduct, the Muids flood basin, etc.
A welcoming facility for walkers and will welcome in a few years the Société Nautique de Compiègne, a rowing club, which will move from the banks of the Oise, due to the arrival of the Seine Nord canal.
