after the bomb threat, no compensation for traders, who expect a lot from this year

On November 30, a traditional event will take place in Laval: the illuminations launch evening. An event which counts in the year of the capital of Mayenne and which, last year, was spoiled by a bomb threat and the closure of the city center. This resulted in deadweight losses for restaurants forced to close their doors. A year later, no compensation, but the time has come for the return of the festivities, hoping that everything goes well this year.

A really bad joke that ruined the party. This is the memory that Laval residents have of the 2023 edition of the illuminations launch evening.

This Saturday, December 2, 2023, the public is preparing to reach downtown Laval to attend the lighting of the city when a message broadcast through the loudspeakers placed in the streets announces that the party is canceled: two Emails were received at the town hall, bomb threats.

READ ALSO: Illuminations de Laval: lighting evening canceled following bomb threat

If, ultimately, the city center was able to reopen in the evening, for establishments, shops, restaurants, bars, it was necessary to close shop, for security reasons. A real shortfall and food that had to be thrown away for some.

A year later, no compensation has been awarded.

“On the evening of the closure due to a bomb threat, remembers Adrien Barrier, chef of the restaurant L’Effet Papilles, I spoke directly to the mayor on the phone who told me: Mr. Barrier, don't worry, next week we will take care of everything and we will find a solution together.”

But, it is clear that no solution has been put forward according to this chef who had nevertheless made proposals himself such as gift vouchers supported by businesses by the town hall.

“We, that evening, had to abandon our 120 place settings with the merchandise that went with it, he specifies. We had personnel management costs to pay, we were not compensated!”

Despite several reminders to the Prefecture, no envelope has been released by the public authorities or insurance companies to compensate for these losses.

“A page will turn, concludes the restaurateur. We really hope to have a crowd this year for the lights and for the month of December.”

Jérémi Bazillier manages a bar which is outside the perimeter which was evacuated during the bomb threat. We could say that the alert was beneficial to him that evening, because the public flocked to his establishment. He also hopes to have a good evening for the 2024 edition.

“We are a place of passage, he said, I think we’ll work well.”

He plans to strengthen his team with 10% more staff.

“The illuminations are where we have the most work, confirms Matthieu Iceaga, guide at the Laval tourist office. It's concentrated for a big month, from the last weekend of November to the first of January, that's when we have the most visitors.”

In addition to the premises, whole buses arrive from neighboring departments, mainly Loire-Atlantique and Ille-et-Vilaine, to discover this spotlighting of the city center.

“It’s often a first opportunity for some to discover Laval, during the winter, even if it means coming back later,” notes the guide.

The launch evening of the Laval illuminations is planned for Saturday, November 30, associated with the traditional fireworks display.

►See the report by Pierre-Erik Cally, Florie Cotenceau and Nicolas Guilbaud.

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