The Place du Marché-Sainte-Catherine (4th), its small restaurants, its cobblestones, its foliage ... And its controversies.
Mail exchanges, noise measurements, checks, legal proceedings.
In the heart of the Marais, the ephemeral terraces of the seven establishments bordering the Parisian square are the site of all dissension.
As everywhere in the capital, cafetiers and restaurateurs have benefited from the extension of their tables, proposed by the City, until spring 2021. The only thing here is: the measure is far from delighting everyone.
Between traders and residents' associations, who have maintained strained relations for more than 20 years, war has now been declared.
And the prefectural measures which impose the closure of bars at 10 p.m. in Paris, from this Monday and for a minimum period of 15 days will not be enough to calm neighborhood conflicts.
The terraces are too numerous, noisy, invasive, preventing the access of emergency vehicles, according to the association Vivre le Marais, whose restaurant owners denounce an “unfounded relentlessness”.
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Anxious to appease the situation, the mayor (PS) of Paris Center, Ariel Weil decided: this Wednesday, if the central reservation of the square is not released, day and night, from all activity, a procedure will be launched, aimed at the suspension of the initial terrace authorizations.
“I will ask for the administrative closure of establishments that refuse to respect the safety rules on which I will not procrastinate.
It is sacred not to hinder the access of emergency services.
"
Restaurant owners believe that if they are deprived of their terraces, they will no longer be able to live.
LP / CB
Arguments to which Me Philippe Meilhac was quick to respond, lawyer for several local traders, who appealed for annulment before the administrative court, of the charter, very demanding because of the heritage aspect of the place, signed by restaurateurs.
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“My clients regret having to initiate such a procedure, he wrote to Ariel Weil, but in the absence of real consultation and faced with the attitude of residents and collectives who exercise particularly effective lobbying, they have , in reality, no choice.
I indicate that all the restorers have subscribed to a declaration of provisional installation which allows them to operate ephemeral terraces on the central reservation.
"
"The decibels emitted are multiplied"
But Vivre le Marais is categorical: "the situation is unlivable".
What a local resident of the square also insists: “It's pure madness!
A real resonance chamber: the decibels emitted are multiplied and it is, moreover, a privatization of public space.
The place is confiscated and the beacons installed tell us 70 decibels while the WHO (World Health Organization) indicates that the normal is 45 decibels.
Imagine the stress of local residents ... Besides, we too are going to take legal action. "
"Relentlessness", retort the traders, who claim to scrupulously respect the terms of the charter, and do not interfere in any way with the emergency services, nor the path of pedestrians.
"If the terraces must disappear, my establishments will disappear with them"
"Proof if there is one: I had only one report during the whole summer while we are checked every day", protests Rémy Guilbert, the owner of the Bistrot Sainte-Catherine, the Café du Marché and the Terrasse Sainte-Catherine which operates 70 outdoor spaces.
“This is obviously the largest part of my turnover, already so affected by the health crisis.
If the terraces must disappear, my establishments will disappear with them, ”he throws bitterly.
Same concern with Philippe de Perthuis, at the head of Double-Fond for 32 years, a small café-theater dedicated to magic.
"The room has only 25 seats, the gauge imposed by sanitary measures, after being closed at the height of the crisis .... So my seven tables on the terrace, where customers can have a drink, allow me to penalty to limit breakage.
And they want to take away the last thing, while we respect what is requested, including closing at 10 pm ”.
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