Marsala, Safety and urban decorum: Mayor Grillo signs a new provision

“We intervened to overcome situations of serious neglect or degradation, respecting common goods and historical heritage”

Ban on the sale/administration of food and drinks through street vendors in some streets of the historic center in order to strengthen safety and liveability in Marsala. The new union ordinance provides this in order to balance the interests of commercial operators and their users with the public interest of safeguarding the decorum and monumental prestige of the city. Mayor Grillo: “The need, felt by the community, is to implement interventions aimed at overcoming situations of serious neglect or degradation, both of the environment and of the artistic and architectural heritage. Ensuring the tranquility and rest of residents is an institutional duty, also regulating – as we have done on several occasions – times of sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is true that the relevant legislation has, in fact, liberalized the methods of carrying out commercial activities, but compliance with the constraints connected to the maintenance of social order, the protection of health and workers, as well as the urban environment and of cultural heritage. I appeal to everyone’s collaboration to make Marsala an increasingly safe and welcoming city”. The prohibitions and limitations of the new ordinance:

• Prohibition of the itinerant exercise of commercial sales and supply activities in public areas of any kind – even with the use of mobile vehicles – in Via Garibaldi, Della Gancia, Sant’Antonino, Frazzitta, Fici, XI Maggio, Rapisardi, Vaccari, Anselmi Correale, Cammareri Scurti, Garraffa, D’Anna, Curatolo, Sarzana, Caturca, Salinisti, Diaz and co. Coccio, as well as in the Piazzas Carmine, S. Gerolamo, Mameli, Della Repubblica (the only exception, the authorized area) and in the clearing in front of Porta Nuova;
• In the only portion of the authorized area in Piazza della Repubblica, between the Church of San Giuseppe and Via Vaccari – outside the cathedral churchyard – the sale can also take place using decent mobile structures. Furthermore, in the aforementioned area it will only be possible to carry out some traditional commercial activities – sale of peanuts, roasted chestnuts, granitas, ice creams, etc. – which, given their typicality, stimulate a harmonious social aggregation in the historic center.
• However, the itinerant sale of alcoholic beverages of any strength both in the streets mentioned and in the portion of Piazza della Repubblica is excluded.

It must be said that the new provision reflects the results of a recent survey on the topic of urban decorum – proposed by the Administration – and which saw the vast majority of citizens support the need for further restrictions to guarantee safety.