“We came close to disaster”: the police close the wild Paillade market under pressure from Les Halles traders

The last Saturday for the illegal Paillade market? The question arises but most of the regular traders at the Halles des 4 Saisons are under no illusion. “We seize the goods, we put an article in the newspaper and ten days later, it starts again. And that’s been the case for twenty years”protests a sedentary trader.

Professionals who feel wronged by the situation. “I don’t see why a few meters further on, we would turn a blind eye to an illicit market. In addition, competition is automatically not respected”curses the seller, pointing to the hundred crates on the ground.

Two people arrested

This Saturday, on the occasion of the arrival of a state representative in the presence of the chief of staff of the prefect of Hérault, Thibaut Félix, a police operation took place to dismantle this illegal market. Five trucks full of fruit and vegetables as well as several tonnes of goods were seized. Two people were arrested for street selling. “It was the result of carelessness. It is unacceptable to have this market which does not respect any conditions”declared the chief of staff. “If we don't do that, what do we do? Are we going to steal?”one of the illegal traders replied in the discussion to the state representative.

A seizure which follows the incidents of last week. Around ten people wearing hoods and armed with mortars had fired, on December 21, at these fruit and vegetable sellers who mainly operate “at the back of the truck”, on the ground. The latter responded according to a witness present that day. “The vegetable workers came with machetes that were cutting to look for the people who were throwing the firecrackers.” An event which had injured a client but which could have been even more serious. “We came close to disaster last week. It is not our mission to maintain order”declares a trader from Les Halles.

Prices even cheaper than the market

The seizure was carried out educationally but not without some uproar, particularly between permanent traders and illegal sellers. Located at the end of the legal Paillade market, the illegal party had set up in a parking lot at the Mosson stadium, taking advantage of the broken parking barrier. “They are unpacking outside the market but a few are now intruding into the market between two stalls.”

On the customer side, the choice of seizing merchandise from the illegal market is not unanimous. “The prices were even cheaper and allowed us to buy what we wanted with our small pension”indicates an elderly lady.

The objective for Thibaut Félix is ​​to perpetuate this closure. “We will find solutions to close this market permanently in partnership with the municipality.” The latter was not represented this Saturday at La Paillade. This is denounced by the union of traders and artisans of the Gard and Cévennes markets (SCAMGC), through the voices of its representatives Eric Zerbib and Didier Delgado. “We want this city to open up a little to us. They tell us no, we won't receive you.”