Par Nicolas Zaugra
Published on 21 Oct 23 at 6:56 See my news Follow News Lyon Traders on rue Paul Verlaine in Villeurbanne in the metropolis of Lyon. (©Nicolas Zaugra/ news Lyon)
They are “washed out”, “tired”, “angry”, “at the end of their tether”: there is no shortage of adjectives and feelings for these traders on rue Paul Verlaine in Villeurbanne (Rhône), in the metropolis of Lyon.
Major work for the T6 tram
In this very commercial street of city center of Villeurbanne, at the Skyscrapersthe ongoing work on the future T6 tram enrages these entrepreneurs who accuse Greater Lyon and Sytral of not hearing their concerns and their “concrete” difficulties linked to this project “which is only just beginning”.
By 2026, the extension of T6 will connect the Doua campus to the Eastern Hospitals of Bron.
50% loss of turnover
Seven months ago, traders were already sounding the alarm. In this month of October, they do the accounts and all are unanimous: the construction site is causing significant consequences, from the drop in turnover to the reduction of their staff, including the bills which accumulate and the declining morale.
Gisèle Matta manages the bar Le Verlaine. This local business regular says she is “at the end of her life”. Frontally opposed to the very principle of the tram in the city, she claims to have “lost 50% of her turnover”. She filed a compensation file at Sytral to try to make up for losses.
“We try to hold events in the evening but they send us the municipal police, it makes too much noise,” regrets the manager. “There are a lot of people on Avenue Henri Barbusse, it’s a disaster zone for us, there’s no one there. Our customers have disappeared,” she says, pointing to her empty terrace and business.
Instead of midnight, it closes at 8:30 p.m. every evening and relies mainly on its regulars. “The other customers don’t come anymore…”.
Videos: currently on News A passerby watches the work on rue Paul Verlaine in Villeurbanne, very disturbed by the T6 tram construction site. (©Nicolas Zaugra/ news Lyon)
“The traders are in agony, we are going to die”
The neighboring restaurant, Crépy, is also disappointed. “I lost 50% of my turnover. We’re going to file a file too but I’m afraid it won’t succeed, I’m feeling bad, we question ourselves every day, we even wonder if it’s us… We would make more money by closing that “by opening,” assures the business manager.
Christine Périsset, manager of the hair salon Planet-Hair is also annoyed. At the start of the work, in January, she was less pessimistic. “I saw my neighbors complaining but I wasn’t affected right away. Since July, I started seeing him. My turnover dropped by 20%. My figure has dropped by 55% for medical wigs for sick people, these customers no longer come to a street under construction like that…”.
“The traders are in agony, we are going to die,” adds Gisèle Matta.
“My restaurant is empty every lunchtime”
Everyone agrees to ask for action on rents managed by two social landlords. Jean-François Poubane, manager of the Mydy restaurant, is asking for action on his monthly rent of 3,000 euros and has obtained a meeting with municipal officials.
This restaurateur, established on rue Paul Verlaine since 2019, is one of the most affected. ” My turnover fell by 70%. My restaurant is empty every lunchtime, in the evening I close earlier. For lunch, instead of making 150 seats, I make 15 at best…” confides the entrepreneur, disappointed.
Jean-François Poubane even claims to have filed a complaint against Sytral and does not want to file a compensation file.
Jean-François Poubane, manager of the Mydy restaurant on rue Paul Verlaine in the Gratte-Ciel district in Villeurbanne, Wednesday October 18, 2023. (©Nicolas Zaugra/ actu Lyon)
“The requests of traders are taken into account”
The mayor of the city, Cédric Van Styvendael, saysnews Lyon that the conditions for compensation for traders are “strict”.
“I am never satisfied, because there are dysfunctions. But at least the merchants’ requests are taken into account and Sytral is quite responsive when we ask for a change to be made to an operation,” he explains.
Axel Sabouret, project manager at Sytral, recognizes the nuisance. “It makes noise, it takes up space and it worries (…) But the traders will realize that the tram will calm the neighborhood.”
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2023-10-21 05:37:58
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