Where and when tables and chairs will be removed
CORFU. To allow the smooth passage of Philharmonic Bands, the public and emergency vehicles during the Easter events. There will be a refund of the usage fee for the total hours during which the tables and chairs are removed.
With the Easter religious events fast approacjing and data indicating that Corfu will once again break visitor records, the Municipal Authority is bringing the implementation of measures in public spaces during religious, national, and local holidays, with the unanimous consent of catering professionals, to today's session of the Municipal Council for approval.
The days, hours, and streets from which tables, umbrellas, stands, and goods must be removed from the pavement are detailed in the decision of the Municipal Committee, which was approved by a majority at its urgent session on April 17th. Specifically for the critical two days of Good Friday and Easter Saturday, their removal is also provided for from the pavements and arcades.
However, the final decision on the implementation of all these measures rests with the Municipal Council, which has been called upon to deliberate on this matter today, jointly proposed by the Mayor of Corfu, Stefanos Poulimenos, and the responsible Deputy Mayor, Kostas Vousovinos. There has been a relevant regulatory decision regarding the allocation of public spaces since 2016; however, as Kostas Vousovinos told Enimerosi, the decision of the Municipal Committee submitted for approval to the Municipal Council specifies the days, hours and streets where the removals will apply.
The goal is to ensure that all the events take place smoothly and that there is unhindered participation and passage of the public, unobstructed passage of emergency vehicles, as well as the unhindered passage of the Philharmonic Bands through the town streets.
Refund of usage fee
Tables and chairs and merchandise will be removed for one hour (e.g. procession with Sacred Relics of St. Spyridon) up to 10 hours (e.g. Good Friday, Epitaphio procession), depending on the duration of the events. Moreover, for this reason, there will be a refund of the usage fee for public space, corresponding to the total days or hours annually during which equipment or items from businesses were removed from the public space for the conduct of the aforementioned events, upon request from interested parties, as determined by a decision of the Municipal Council.
Meeting with professionals
The measures proposed by the Municipal Authority for public spaces during religious, national, and local holidays occupied the meeting held on Monday morning at the Maraslio Town Hall, with members of the Board of Corfu Catering Association, the Mayor, and the responsible Deputy Mayor Mr. Vousovinos. The meeting took place one day before the issue is to be discussed at the Municipal Council, with professionals fully in line with the municipal authority, agreeing to remove tables and chairs for all the holidays covered by this specific measure.
"It was a constructive conversation with the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor, and we agree on the removal for all holiday days provided by the regulatory framework. All colleagues are in agreement," Vassilis Vassilakis, President of the Catering Association, told Enimerosi.
Playing of music
Regarding the playing of music in the establishments, there was a spirit of understanding from the professionals so that it would be in line with the mood of the days and played at low volume, from the afternoon of Holy Thursday until the first Resurrection. They raised this specific issue themselves at the meeting, expressing their willingness to provide the police with decibel meters at their own expense and to install volume limiters in the shops. They even criticised their colleagues for not complying, stating that if they do not change their tactics after the first warning they receive, they will be removed from the Catering Association, while also publicly disclosing their information. Easter, however, will be the first critical crash test for the professionals, both in terms of outdoor seating and music during religious events.
Detailed implementation of the measures
A) Establishments on Michail Theotoki Street, on Evg. Voulgareos Street (from the intersection with Michail Theotoki Street to the intersection with Eleftherias Street), and on Nikiforos Theotoki Street (from the intersection with Eleftherias Street to the intersection with Michail Theotoki Street to Mavro Gato (Agios Antonios before Leptokaridis), where tables and chairs and merchandise will be removed from the pavement, especially on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, as well as from the pavements and arcades:
