Ban on heating terraces in Toulouse: restaurateurs are resisting
Since April 1, bars and restaurants have been banned from heating their terraces. However, restaurateurs and tenants of Toulouse bars persist in doing so.
“In April, don’t discover yourself with a thread…”. At the beginning of the month, the proverb takes on its full meaning in Toulouse. Temperatures have dropped drastically over the past few days. Those who used to sit on the terrace to have a drink or eat saw the warmth of the sun’s rays disappear to give way to a cool breeze. Restaurateurs and bar keepers have left the heating systems running despite the ban, in force since April 1.
However, they do not expose themselves to heavy penalties. In the event of non-compliance with the ban on heating the terrace, offenders are liable to a fine of up to 1,500 euros, and 3,000 euros in the event of a repeat offence. But for the moment, pedagogy is on the side of communities and the State until next winter. No fine will be drawn up, only reminders of the law.
“The terrace must be closed”
Last week, Olivier Bouscatel, manager of several restaurants and member of the Union des métiers et des industries de l’hôtellerie de Haute-Garonne, announced that “many of us (restaurateurs) will end the use of heating systems for this season and will not turn them back on the next”. In addition to the almost non-existent risk in the event of bravado, certain tenants of bars acknowledge not to seize all with the prohibition. Me I leave the heating system switched on. Ours is electric, I think we still have the right. I’ve seen other bars keep them on. It is those with gas that are prohibited…”, pleads a bar manager in Place Saint-Georges.
Philippe Belot, vice-president of the Umih of Haute-Garonne, recalls: “The heating system is prohibited whether it is electric or gas in all the terraces which are not completely closed. »
He believes that many restaurateurs either misunderstood the ban or were unaware of it.