Already 88 candidates to join the new Biltoki halls in Béziers, “unheard of”

Les halles vont fermer pendant huit mois – Diane Petitmangin

Le conseil municipal a adopté ce lundi le principe d'une indemnisation de 1,2 million d'euros pour les commerçants des halles de Béziers, qui seront en travaux pendant huit mois.

Traders in the Béziers market halls, who will have to leave their point of sale for eight months due to renovation and takeover of the premises by the Basque company Biltoki, will benefit from compensation of 1.2 million euros. Each of them will receive an envelope which « cannot be less than 10,000 euros nor more than 130,000 euros ».

The measure was adopted, but this issue caused elected officials to react. Opposition councilor Thierry Antoine (EELV) denounced in particular « an asymmetrical situation between Biltoki and traders » : « We approach them by offering them precise prices, as if they were already established. However, it is the municipal council which must set them », he recalled.« They only make proposals, they test a price range, but it is the council which will decide », Robert Ménard immediately retorted. According to the mayor, « There are already 80 traders, from here and elsewhere, who have asked to settle in Béziers. Biltoki is a good partner, and it will only be next November that we will be able to see whether the new halls are a success or not ». Verification carried out, Biltoki, without canvassing, has already received 88 applications. « Never seen before », say the future managers of the halls.

The renovation of the historic building in Béziers, for an expected cost of 16 million euros, could however make headlines. Retailers finish clearing out their inventory, and this move is starting to reveal surprises. The junction of the metal pillars which form the structure of the halls with the ground would therefore be more weakened than expected. The architect of the historic buildings also imposed that the slats (a sort of openwork shutters) be made of wood, and not metal. « Yes it will cost more », admitted Robert Ménard, but this work is also the price to pay to have halls « where we don't freeze in the winter, and where we don't die of heat in the summer. »