Given the trend observed in recent years, it was expected. According to data just made public by INSEE and entered into force this year, the population of Lure has fallen below the threshold of 8,000 inhabitants. It officially stands at 7,960 inhabitants out of 1um January 2020, without the population “counted separately” (i.e. people registered in other municipalities but who have maintained their residence in Lure, such as students).
“There is a general erosion, it is difficult to avoid it”
This figure of 7,960 inhabitants is the result of the last census campaign, which was carried out in early 2020 in Lure. INSEE compares it with the 2014 figure (8,324 inhabitants) and observes an average annual demographic variation of -0.7%. “The trend is downwards,” agrees Éric Houlley, mayor of Lure. “It’s in line with the demographic evolution of Burgundy-Franche-Comté and Haute-Saône : there is general erosion, it is difficult to avoid it. This observation is confirmed at the community level of the Pays de Lure communes, which today has 19,482 inhabitants: growing from 2009 to 2014 (+0.5% per year on average), its population seems to have decreased between 2014 and 2020 (-0.2% per year).
A barrier to installation
The territory faces “one main problem, that of mobility”, believes Éric Houlley. “The travel capacity offered is insufficient, at road or rail level. It is a brake on the settlement of new populations. “For the train, the mayor of Lure would like “heavy investments” on the Belfort-Épinal line, and considers the offer towards Paris “insufficient”. On the road side, the upgrade to 2×2 lanes of the RN 19 towards Vesoul is planned.
“Recreating businesses and jobs is the key”
A peculiarity of Luron: “We pay in the long term for the erosion of public services since the 1990s, more marked than elsewhere”, also analyzes the mayor of Lure. There are encouraging signs on this point: “For the first time in a long time, we are attracting new business,” underlines Éric Houlley. After the announcement of the establishment of a closed educational center, the creation of a new service in the health sector will have to be confirmed in the coming weeks. “We pulled ourselves out of the game even during the internal movements of the Public Finance: the employment balance is very positive for Lure”, notes the mayor. To stem the decline in population, the elected officials are also trying to attract private investors: “Recreating businesses and jobs is the key. »