Calm after the storm

The Neptune plage after the freak storm. Photo by Tiffanie Pierrot

Yellow diggers, shovels and cleaning machines litter the coastline, as do piles of rubbish, which continue to grow in front of the beach restaurants and bars.

“We have lost something close to 500,000 euros,” claimed M. Gabard, manager of the Neptune Plage, one of those establishments struck down by the giant waves. Speaking to The Riviera Times yesterday he continued, “This is a disaster, especially as the summer season is beginning and a stream of tourists are due to arrive here. We have to replace everything: the kitchen, the cooking apparatus, the electrical and plumbing systems, the bathroom … it will take at least a month for the restaurant to reopen.” In the face of a disaster, Gabard seems to have adopted a Blitz spirit, concluding, “we won’t let it get us down!”

A little further down the beach, Zytomierski Wladimir, manager of the Lido restaurant also described the damage: “Our 1000 square metre restaurant is buried under sand and rubble. The bar, the kitchen and the offices are devastated. It happened so suddenly that we did not have time to save anything! Now we have to clear the restaurant. Then we can assess what we must do to reopen as soon as possible. It’s important that the image of Nice as a holiday destination is not effected.” “Fortunately,” he pointed out, “ no one got hurt.”

Not all the beachfront premises were completely ravaged by the water and there are five restaurants intending to open their doors this weekend. This is, in large measure, thanks to the impressive action taken by the town council since Tuesday.

In a press conference yesterday attended by both journalists and beach restaurant owners Nice’s mayor, Christian Estrosi, praised the demonstration of “solidarity” that has been evident in the response of city officials and residents. After meeting with the French president Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday, Estrosi has succeeded in classifying the incident as a natural disaster. This crucial decision means that juridical and financial support will be provided to repair the damaged properties.

Depending on the extent of the damage, proprietors will receive in the region of 2.5 millions euros in the form of bank loans. Moreover, they will be allowed to increase the surface area of their terraces. “I need you to serve our tourism industry and you need me to help you regain commerce. We have to work together,” Estrosi told restaurants owners.

The regional council and its president Eric Ciotti, will also take part to the general recovery effort, deployed with particular urgency just few days before the Cannes festival and Monaco Grand Prix.

TP