France, April 19 -- The town of Izon sits halfway between Bordeaux and Libourne - a string of family homes along a 4-kilometre stretch of the D242 departmental road, with no real centre.
During the 1980s and '90s, the town's population doubled to around 6,000, which is where it stands today, as people working in the nearby cities moved in.
But with this rapid growth and the town's new status as a commuter hub, Izon lost some of its local character.
"We are interested in creating more ties within the community, to avoid this becoming a city where you just sleep, leave for work in the morning, come home in the evening and stay at home," explains Sophie Carrere, the newly elected assistant mayor in charge of culture.
"It's a very residenti...