While the Bastia Ferris Wheel is still not allowed to turn, several other cities can take advantage of the attraction during the holidays. Latest opening date, that of Nice, which has just obtained authorization from the prefecture.
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In Nice, the Ferris wheel has been running since December 23. After days of closure, the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes authorized the opening of the attraction installed Place Masséna.
The reason : “In accordance with the instructions of the Interministerial Crisis Center (CIC), as regards isolated large wheels installed in the city center, which welcome the public in closed cabins, they are not authorized. The Ferris wheel installed in the city center of Antibes and the one installed in the city center of Nice, have fully open cabins, which is why these rides are authorized to operate“, explained the prefecture to France 3 Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur.
“Health security” not guaranteed in Bastia
In Bastia, despite the same provisions as the Ferris wheel of Nice, the prefect of Haute-Corse, François Ravier, never gave his permission. On December 16, he chose to ban the opening of the Ferris wheel in Place Saint-Nicolas “due to the ban on fairgrounds and the ban on gathering more than six people on public roads“Impossible, he believes then, to guarantee around this equipment”health security“.
Two days later, the municipality seized of a summary suspension in the administrative court (TA) of Bastia. Pierre Savelli, the mayor, is not satisfied with the justifications put forward by the prefecture. Because a dense and complete sanitary protocol had thus been built to allow the opening of the street, recalled Pierre Savelli. Protocol to which François Ravier himself contributed.
???? “It is surprising to see the prefect of Haute-Corse attack a protocol that he himself helped build.”
My press release following the publication of a decree prohibiting access to the Ferris wheel ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/tFLT78dH53– Pierre Savelli (@PierreSavelli) December 16, 2020
The administrative tribunal ruled in favor of the prefect
On December 24, the decision of the TA of Bastia falls and justifies the prefect of Haute-Corse. “A queue bringing together more than six people simultaneously constitutes a gathering on the public highway which is not among the exceptions authorized by the decree of October 29, 2020.“, said the TA.
The mayor of the city Pierre Savelli, who said to himself “surprised“by this decision and does not understand the arguments of the administrative court, decided to file a substantive appeal before the same administrative court of Bastia.
The goal ? Judge the merits of the case. And if the appeal is rather symbolic, there is hope that the wheel will turn. If the epidemic tension drops, Pierre Savelli hopes that the prefect will withdraw his order and that the wheel can reopen, even a few days.
The Bastia Ferris Wheel was inaugurated on December 16. The municipality would have spent 45,000 euros for the rental of the machine.
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