It is not easy to be a merchant in Draguignan. Work on the Trabaud block will begin on 3 January for a period of 18 months. At the same time, until November 2024, the restoration of the networks and the paving of various pedestrian streets will be carried out.
Almost two years of work. A prospect that does not rejoice the managers of the shops located in the historical centre. Some fear this new ordeal is the tipping point that will force them to bring down the curtain…definitely.
The hammer or the anvil
“Will we ever get some respite?wonders one of them, whose shop is on rue de la République. Since 2017 there has been the renovation of the Museum of Fine Arts, then there was Boulevard Clemenceau and the Place du Marché. Now, two years of work and almost all pedestrian streets are affected. It’s starting to do.”
An enumeration that makes your head spin. To which must be added the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic and health restrictions. “We must not forget that Treasuries are weaker today than they were before the epidemicreports Pierre Valagnosc, owner of several shops on rue Cisson. And I’m not even talking about state-guaranteed loans that have to be repaid.”
A concern that he did not fail to share last Wednesday, during an information meeting organized by the town hall on these famous works. What somehow burns elected officials in their approach. “We have no choice, the networks are old and haven’t been renewed since the 70ssays Richard Strambio, mayor of Draguignan. If we do nothing, we can expose ourselves to collapsing buildings (Islet of Trabaud, ed)or roads exploding from a gas leak because we didn’t do what we needed to.”
“This work, once completed, will allow you to make a much better turnover than the current one”, predicts Lisa Chauvin, deputy mayor in charge of commerce.
Bad for good?
“We do not question the benefits of this workreplies Pierre Valagnosc, after a tough exchange. We just think the timing was wrong. We will take two years of work in rue Cisson… Will we still be there to take advantage of these results if we don’t resist the situation?”
An observation shared by many operators present at this meeting. “When there was work on Boulevard Clemenceau, I lost 40% of my turnover”reports. Have you had an improvement in your turnover once the job is done?asks Richard Strambio. “Yes. A few months later, there was a good recovery.”
An exchange that did not necessarily appease fears in the meeting. “If there’s no cash, no customers come to us, we won’t have a living.”reminds a business executive about the harsh reality of entrepreneurship.
Some of them did not hesitate to ask the town hall for financial compensation. “Impossible thing to do. The Municipality cannot help private individuals”escapes Pierre Valagnosc.
Richard Strambio wanted to be reassuring. “Tomorrow I will approach all the players, i.e. the Prefecture and the General Directorate of Public Finance to study solutions”promises.
The traders have hinted at the possibility of establishing a free zone in the area by exempting traders from paying value added tax (VAT), or even deferring the payment of contributions to the Urssaf.
Case to follow.
