From night groceries forced to lower the curtain between midnight and 6 a.m. Dijon ! The town hall issued a decree to this effect this Thursday, December 9, 2021, targeting grocery stores in the Place de la République area in Dijon.
The drastic measure was prompted by numerous complaints filed by residents. In question, noise pollution from revelers and more worrying a number of attacks which increases around the Place de la République since the last deconfinement. The authorities therefore want to avoid gatherings near grocery stores … and prevent the sale of alcohol. A dozen grocery stores are thus affected by the decree.
A lack of dialogue between the grocers and the town hall of Dijon?
In detail, the scope concerned starts from the Place de la République. It includes in particular the rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, rue de la Préfecture, boulevard de la Trémouille or boulevard Clémenceau. Closing hours between midnight and 6 a.m., mandatory for grocers until May 15, 2022!
A “improper closure” for the main stakeholders: present since 2014, Judge Ben Mohammed runs 2 grocery stores affected by the decree, rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The one who is also the president of the Union of local traders (UCP21) regrets “the lack of dialogue” with the town hall of Dijon, despite the ten emails sent.
Hakim Ben Mohammed speaks bluntly of the fear of “which looks like a 2nd lockdown.” The closure of his grocery store will cause a loss of 50% of turnover, or even the dismissal of two employees on permanent contracts. Faced with these consequences, the grocer offers solutions such as the creation of a specific nightlife brigade. He suggests : “why not create a specific post for public peace? We need public peace officers in addition to the municipal and national police.”
The decree is scheduled to last until May 15, 2022
Proposals swept away with the back of the hand by the first deputy mayor of Dijon. Nathalie Koenders justifies the decree, it was essential in view of the context: ”We see that at certain hours of the night, there may be groups in front of these establishments. Despite all the pedagogy we have done with the traders, we have had to limit the opening hours. “
According to Nathalie Koenders, police officers have “sufficient knowledge of the field” to deal with nightlife issues. Especially since the municipal police now have “a greater time range, ending their patrols at 2:30 am “, according to the details of the deputy mayor of Dijon François Rebsamen.
Despite all the pedagogy we have done with the traders, we have had to limit the opening hours. “ Nathalie Koenders, first deputy at the town hall of Dijon.
On the right, the decree is also contested by the opposition. For the municipal councilor Bruno David, the decree is a “insufficient measure” to restore calm.
“The disturbances are a matter of public order, not of traders. We need an increase in the number of municipal police and more time slots for the armed police. I also ask to test the sound radars in the face of nuisance. Let’s open the dialogue! ”
Through the voice of Nathalie Koenders, the town hall of Dijon says “ready for dialogue” but to “the end of the decree, on May 15, 2022. “ Still according to the decree, snacks or “similar establishments selling food products” are also affected by the time limitation.
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