New préfet joins TGV campaign

The new préfet of Basse-Normandie and Calvados has backed a campaign for a new high-speed rail link through the region. Dider Lallement, a former transport ministry bureau chief and secretary-general in the ecology ministry, said journey times to Paris had to be cut to get more cars off the roads.

Lisieux imposes youth curfew

Under-13s have been banned from going out in Lisieux at night without being accompanied by a parent or guardian. Mayor Bernard Aubril said the curfew, from 23.00 to 6.00 every night, aimed to reduce crime and noise pollution, and also protect young people from danger. The ban applies for a trial period until October 31.

Caen airport closed for works

No flights will serve Caen-Carpiquet airport this summer because of renovation work. The €6.7m project includes the full resurfacing of the 2km-long runway and new, clearer markings. Scheduled flights linking Caen with Nice, Ajaccio and Lyon are taking off and landing at Deauville instead. Paris flights are cancelled. Services should return to normal from September 6.

Region told to give surplus away

Haute-Normandie regional council has been ordered to donate some of its operating surplus to less well-off regions, such as Languedoc-Roussillon and Corsica. The region, which is one of the best budget performers alongside Paris, Alsace and the Rhône-Alpes, will make several tens of millions of euros in “solidarity transfers” between now and 2015 under a government scheme to reduce inequalities between different parts of France.

Caen considers museum charges

The mairie in Caen is considering scrapping free entry to two of the city’s most popular museums, the Musée des Beaux Arts and Musée de Normandie. The proposal has been condemned by opposition councillors, who say it would deny low-income families access to culture.

Normandy to host Miss France final

This year’s final for the Miss France beauty contest will be staged in December at the Zénith in Caen, the hometown of current title-holder Malika Ménard. Details of how to attend will be made available in the autumn.

Seasonal jobs for Deauville festival

Some 250 temporary jobs are on offer at the Deauville American film festival from September 3-12. Ticket-checkers, ushers and general helpers are needed to welcome the 55,000 festival-goers. Send CV and letter to cmarion@congres-deauville.com or call Claire Marion-Chanlon on 02 31 14 14 14.

Caen university gains autonomy

Caen university is to join the growing list of universities in France to declare autonomy from the state. It will have complete independence to manage its own budget and human resources from 2011.

Saint-Lô to Paris train is axed

A direct daily commuter service linking Saint-Lô to Paris Saint-Lazare is to be axed because of low passenger numbers. The 6.50 train, which took three hours to reach the capital and did not arrive back until 21.40, was losing e1m a year. The route will continue to operate at weekends.

Coutances loses mobile reception

Residents in Coutances town centre have lost their mobile phone signal after the regional council ordered that a mast be taken down as a safety precaution. The transmitter, on the roof of an agriculture school owned by the region, was dismantled following complaints from parents and anti-mast groups. Mayor Yves Lamy has lodged a formal complaint and hopes to speed up the process of finding a new site and granting planning permission to restore service to SFR and Orange customers.