“Give us back our market!” The raised fist, this Tuesday noon, under the windows of the mayor of Saint-Ouen, William Delannoy (UDI), a hundred fairground merchants cry their anger. After a sit-in morning in front of the city’s economic service, then a snail operation on avenue Gabriel-Péri, they tried – in vain – to get an appointment with the councilor.
Objective: the immediate reopening of the hall in the Ottino market. As it stands, the town hall informed traders that it would not reopen this hall, which has been closed since the start of confinement. But that it would allow food merchants to settle in the adjoining street, from June 9 … instead of “flying merchants”, who sell clothes, trinkets …
Merchants urged to go elsewhere
Not understandable for the more than 150 merchants on the site, while a number of food markets have reopened since May 11 in Île-de-France. “This decision was made without consultation with the traders,” says Nabil Ouriemchi, a scoop. Who regrets, on behalf of the other merchants, several things: “Some were not selected to be part of the rescued traders … However, we do not know how they sort. “
The flying merchants will have to look elsewhere. “There are just over a hundred on Sundays, and at least 70 to 80 on weekdays. So many families who have had no income for several months, ”recalls Maria Da Silva, representative of the French market federation.
Another problem: for the fifty food businesses on the market, setting up outside requires a significant investment. “I am a cheese maker, it is € 20,000 for the cold showcase and the equipment that goes with it… I cannot afford it! Ditto for butchers, fishmongers, etc., ”said a merchant.
“We need to work, it’s a question of survival”
So, some warn: June 9, date of reopening of the food market, “it will be hot”. “We, the flying merchants, will unpack! We need to work, it’s a question of survival, ”says one. Another adds: “If the city has to be blocked to make itself heard, we will do it!” “
Contacted, the mayor UDI William Delannoy reminds that the municipalities of Île-de-France, classified orange by the government in the scale of circulation of the virus, have “obligations”. “This hall, we can not reopen it anyhow, we can not put too many people in it, it presents a health risk according to the rules decreed by the government, not by me”, explains the councilor.
“I have no choice”, explains the mayor
The mayor confirms: “Yes, because of the safety distance, we will lose traders. I regret it, but I am responsible for the city, I have no choice! “
However, this situation is “temporary”, according to the city councilor. Does this mean that once Île-de-France goes green, the hall will reopen? Not that easy.
