Qualitaly_123

JUN. JUL. 2021 VII network. The pros and cons on what, fortunately, has allowed the sector to get going again by Maddalena Baldini After the long-awaited reopening of bars and restaurants - from June onwards, with the possibility of eating indoors too - we find ourselves analysing what the needs and transformations have been, especially with reference to open-air spaces, literally ‘taken by storm’ after the Government’s approval. While in small and medium-sized towns the issue has taken on more manageable dimensions, in large cities such as Milan and Florence the situation has proved more complex, first and foremost because of the appearance of tables, umbrellas and chairs on pavements, car parks and streets, all thanks to the elimination of the Cosap, the tax on the occupation of public land, and the facilitation of authorisation procedures. The debate, however, remains open because while on the one hand there are those who highlight the problems that can arise from the “peaceful encumbrance” of tables, on the other hand there are those who do not identify them as an “invasion” of public land, but as an inevitable and natural logistical transformation brought about by Covid-19. The numbers involved (presented by the major categories in the sector) are significant, given that we are talking about 180 thousand tables for a total of almost 750 thousand square metres, 40 thousand of which in the city of Milan alone. The new dehors, outdoor spaces, installations and authorised gazebos have notably increased also in Rome and Naples, +65 thousand square metres and +38 thousand square metres, respectively. PROS AND CONS ON OUTDOOR AREAS Aldo Cursano, president of Confcommercio in the province of Florence and owner of several historic venues in the Tuscan capital and its province, illustrates the context and provides an overview. “The start of the activities, at least outdoors, was a very important signal, both to encourage a minimum of economic restart and at a psychological level, since restaurants are one of the symbols of sociability par excellence. The policy of moving the business outdoors has been espoused by the local authorities, who have been sensitive to this ‘new vision’ of the restaurant industry. There were specific criteria for each situation,” continues Cursano. “For example, those who already had a dehor were given the opportunity to occupy a further 30% free of charge, thus supplementing the concession, obviously without causing problems for the road network and pedestrian passages. Confusion arose with those who, despite not having authorisations because they were at the limit of safety standards, were still able to apply for concessions (exceptionally and with greater consideration), perhaps by presenting small projects and installation plans. It is clear that many people took advantage of this, putting tables and chairs everywhere, obstructing access and creating various difficulties for pedestrians and the normal traffic flow”. According to Cursano, all this has partly penalised those who have obtained concessions in accordance with the rules, creating general disrepute: “If until 1 June there was a certain tolerance, now the desire and the need to enforce what has been established is very strong. In fact, even in Florence, the controls have become strict, giving rise to numerous reprimands”. The real issue, however, is to understand what will happen next year, since many have benefited from these spaces and many will ask for the possibility to keep them permanently, trying to reconcile all the needs and without neglecting the evolution of the healthcare emergency. In addition to this fundamental aspect, Cursano also opens a parenthesis on the question of costs and fittings, bringing to light interesting figures and problems: “The installation of a dehor from scratch with chairs, tables, umbrellas, plants and everything else needed is the responsibility of the owner, opting in some cases for renting the material or buying it directly. The costs have been considerable - varying according to the size of the dehor - but on average, for those who have purchased the furnishings, we’re talking around 25-30 thousand