Reggio Emilia, August 15, 2026 – The protest of activists opposing the construction of a new Conad supermarket and a building with public services in the green area on Via Emilia in the Ospizio district is continuing today, but in different ways. The Digos has informed the Permanent Assembly for the Ospizio forest – organizer of the sit-in that began on August 3 – that from now on the areas occupied by the protesters can no longer be held. From today, according to new instructions from the police headquarters, activists can no longer occupy two spaces: neither the bike path – on land owned by Conad Centro Nord – leading to Campo di Marte 2 park, nor the entrance to the green area located on Via Primo Maggio.
New provisions from the police headquarters for environmentalists
The environmentalists had requested and obtained extensions by tacit consent until August 17, and in the meantime had asked the police headquarters to continue to stay until the end of the month, but now new provisions have arrived from the police headquarters: it is not a refusal of the possibility to demonstrate freely, but an indication to do so in places different from the current ones and in a way that does not occupy Conad’s private areas (the bike path) and does not block access to the “Ospizio forest”.
This is a prescription issued by the authorities following a request submitted by Conad Centro Nord: the consumer cooperative had in fact asked the Prefecture last week to intervene through the appropriate offices so that the protest in their private area would be suspended or continue in forms compatible with the start of work in the green area.
Protesters identified
The retail giant also filed a complaint with the Prosecutor’s Office against unknown persons on August 3, a few hours after the demonstration began on the same day the work was scheduled to start. The complaint identifies two offenses: private violence (for preventing the start of preparatory operations at the construction site) and occupation of private land (the area where they were stationed was purchased by Conad). Meanwhile, the Digos has proceeded with the identification of some protesters.
The activists’ sit-in has moved
Today the environmentalists’ sit-in in favor of maintaining the green space continues, but it has moved to the public wooded area at the entrance of Campo di Marte 2 park, where the creative activities already planned by the organizers in the “Ferrabosco” program are held. The new police headquarters prescription paves the way for the start of preparatory activities at the construction site to implement the urban plan, although it seems very unlikely that work will begin on Monday.
The (remote) possibility of work starting on Monday
While waiting to understand when the work vehicles commissioned by Conad Centro Nord will return, the Permanent Assembly for the Ospizio forest, hypothesizing a possible start of work on Monday, is preparing in advance, calling on supporters to continue the protest in the permitted areas: specifically, “to hold a sit-in on Monday morning from dawn, at 5, in the area where the demonstration was authorized, on Via Emilia between the entrance of Busetti and that of the bike path.” But, as mentioned, the start of preliminary operations at the construction site may not begin on Monday, but later.
The redevelopment project and the appeal to the TAR
It should be remembered that the Ospizio urban redevelopment plan began in 2006, was signed in 2015 between the Municipality and Conad Centro Nord, and obtained permits to build between last year and February of this year. Legambiente and other citizens have filed an appeal to the TAR to request the annulment of the acts that authorized the project. The administrative judges rejected the request to immediately suspend the work on July 21, while the rest of the appeal is still under review.
The clash has become public
Meanwhile, a public debate has arisen involving members of the council, political parties, university professors, representatives of associations, and citizens who have offered different interpretations and clashed over the priorities to be given to environmental protection, projects for the new face of the district, and the rights acquired so far by Conad.
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