Toulouse. A call for help from a shopkeeper hard hit by metro work
Through Gabriel Kenedi
Published on
“You have to be very motivated to come and see you! “. This is a phrase that customers who designate to pass through the doors of the Galo’Pain, a bakery located directly opposite the future metro station which will be located in the neighborhood Bonnefoy, do not fail to speak out.
“We are already at nine months of work. We suffer ”
And for good reason, within the framework of preparatory work for the construction of the third metro line, several businesses in the heights of the Faubourg must be accommodated by these works managed by Toulouse Métropole. To get to the bakery, you have to make a detour on foot of 200 meters in order to be able to bypass the work area. A situation not easy to live with for the traders concerned and which has a real impact from a financial point of view… especially since the works are very late.
“It started to become really penalizing from the end of March”, testifies Aude Sanchez, the co-manager (with her husband…) of Galo’Pain. Trenches were dug flush with the bakery and metal walkways replaced the sidewalks. They were not very well secured and access to our business has become very difficult“. Removal of places for cars, shop front door sometimes blocked, noise pollution, electricity faults, poor security of the site … customers have become increasingly rare.
“Initially, it should last three months. Three months is manageable. Three months, on hold. But here, we are already at nine months of work. We are suffering, and we already know that it continues in December, which is the most important month of the year for us, ”continues Aude Sanchez.
“We have trouble sleeping at night”
Irritated by the situation, the baker deployed a large black banner in order to challenge passers-by … and the town hall. “Shops ignored by the town hall, hidden behind works. We will no longer be there to wait for you when you exit the metro. Support us! », It is written there.
“I launched appeals for help from the town hall, the metropolis, Tisséo, the chamber of commerce. At the beginning I was told that since it was not purely construction work on the metro, we would have no help. But following a field visit, they (the town hall, editor’s note) realized the extent of the delays and what we have suffered ”, underlines the shopkeeper, who claims to have lost at least 40% of its customers since the start of the works. The financial loss is therefore particularly important.
” Today, cash flow, we are at the lowest. We’re super stressed, super tense. It is really very hard. Since we created our company, we have been in constant expansion. We hired new employees, made loans to change equipment, in order to develop our business. The other businesses located next to us are also struggling, ”explains Aude Sanchez.
“It’s great that there is a metro,” resumes the shopkeeper … But here, we find ourselves very annoyed. Work, there will be others (as part of the construction of the third metro line, editor’s note), but we already know that we will have help. Sur will therefore be much more serene. There, it is difficult to sleep at night. Not being able to pay our expenses and our employees is our antise“.
Financial aid during study
On the side of the town hall and Toulouse Métropole, we claim to have well taken into account the problem. “On this specific site, on that there were particular circumstances related to the heaviness and the delays of the site. Legal services have been asked to consider what can be done in the name of the exceptional nature of the damage suffered. To date, I have not had any feedback ”, indicates Jean-Michel Lattes, third deputy mayor, vice-president of Toulouse Métropole and president of Tisséo.
He continues: The legal department is currently working on the matter. The idea would be to provide exceptional compensation to traders who have suffered exceptional damage ”.
“I know that efforts are being made by the town hall. I was told that financial aid was going to be released quickly. As soon as the situation is too, I will withdraw my banner, ”assures Aude Sanchez.
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