Zurich’s residential areas are threatened with sleepless nights
The hard work week is over and in the evening you want to relax with friends on a garden terrace and drink beer, wine or sparkling wine. Music fills the evening air, people are chatting and despite the intense hour it is still pleasantly warm. That sounds like a perfect summer evening to a lot of people. But just when it’s most beautiful, the pubs have to close their terraces.
This is set to change in the city of Zurich in the future. At least on six evenings during this year’s summer holidays. With the “Mediterranean Nights”, the city is launching a pilot project in which catering establishments are allowed to have their terraces open until 2 a.m. on a few evenings instead of midnight.
There is a risk of legal resistance
The companies could submit an application to the city’s security department until April 14th. 156 restaurateurs took advantage of the opportunity to “Daily Gazette” writes. The applications are currently being reviewed individually by the city.
Restaurant operators and party people are happy. For many residents, however, the opening times are a nuisance. There is a threat of resistance. According to the “Tages-Anzeiger”, the group “downtown as a residential area” is reviewing legal steps. The members do not understand why the already high level of noise pollution in the districts affected should be further increased.
Hotline for residents who are annoyed by noise
The situation is not new: two years ago, the city of Zurich wanted to support the bars with longer opening times on individual evenings. However, local residents took legal action and were able to prevent implementation in the summer of 2020.
In order for it to work this time, the city has made a few adjustments to the concept. Gastro Zurich will offer a hotline for residents and pay for additional security teams. The installation of loudspeakers is also prohibited. In addition, the city will not allow “Mediterranean nights” in sensitive residential areas or courtyards.
Should the opening hours come about, the city police WILL carry out noise measurements. If the result is satisfactory, the long terrace nights could become the norm in the future. (smt)