The co-presidents of Coeur de Castres, the association of merchants in the city center, have just written to the Préfète du Tarn to denounce the monopoly offered “on a silver platter” to supermarkets who are not satisfied with sell only food.
In a courteous but very determined letter addressed to Catherine Ferrier, Prefect of Tarn, the two co-presidents of the Cœur de Castres association which brings together 120 merchants and services from the city center speak for their members who are very angry at the tolerance accorded to large areas of the agglomeration who are not satisfied with selling food or basic necessities. Christel Aizes and Patrick Azria tell him in particular: “We would like to alert you to the inconsistencies that we have noticed and which cause misunderstanding among our members. In this time of health solidarity, independent traders are forced to close the doors of their store considered “not essential”. We did it. The deserted and dumb city center can give a taste of the future, because after confinement, some curtains will not be able to be raised. “
Two weights, two measures
If they do not dispute the need to sell basic necessities such as food and hygiene: “But for the rest, there are two weights, two measures. When the bookstores in the city center are closed, the Supermarket cultural and stationery departments are crowded. When downtown florists are closed, outdoor and gardening department stores are teeming with spring offers. When high-tech and home appliance stores are confined, hypermarkets have a monopoly. from the sale of these products.⦁ When the lingerie, clothing or accessories stores are off, the big box stores label and present their summer collection. When the decoration and tableware stores do not open, supermarkets maintain their offers. When the beauty shops are empty, the supermarket cosmetic shelves are full. “
Reopen very quickly
The “small” traders already believe that they fight all year round with unequal weapons against the GMS, a little relieved by the action of the Heart of the City Government. But they continue: “It is a double standard which comes in complete mismatch with this national desire to revitalize our heart of the city. The monopoly of large surfaces being strongly reinforced, the shops in the city center already exhausted We can assure you that the permanent closings are looming with a procession of many employees who are permanently unemployed. “
These establishments therefore explain that they are anxious to be able to reopen: “It would therefore be desirable for the shops to reopen very quickly while respecting, if need be, the health rules laid down, in order to maintain the activity and the jobs that will with.”
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