The Manche prefecture decided this Thursday August 20, 2020 not to authorize the Lessay fair, even in its reduced version to Friday September 11 and Saturday September 12, 2020.
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The Manche prefecture decided this Thursday 20 August 2020 of not to authorize the Lessay fair, even in its reduced version to Friday September 11 and Saturday September 12, 2020.
Read also: Manche: Why the mayor and the municipality of Lessay want to maintain the fair
The arguments of the Prefect of La Manche
The Manche prefecture listed the arguments that motivated this decision:
The health context linked to the Covid-19 pandemic calls for the greatest vigilance in the organization of demonstrations, in order to guarantee respect for barrier gestures and physical distancing. It is the prefect’s responsibility to take the necessary, appropriate and proportionate measures to limit the risks of contamination induced by the circulation of the virus.
However, with its reputation which has spanned the centuries, “the Lessay fair traditionally attracts tens of thousands of visitors per day”, adds the prefecture.
Read also: Channel: The Lessay fair threatened like the other festivals
The two gatherings of 5,000 people risk forming one of 10,000
The prefecture continues:
This year, two separate files were submitted to the prefecture by the town hall of Lessay, for the agricultural fair and the funfair, with a tonnage of 5,000 participants for each event. Several exchanges have taken place between the services of the prefecture and those of the municipality in recent weeks. In view of the defined perimeter and the organizational methods adopted, the agricultural fair and the funfair form a single gathering of 10,000 people.
Read also: The Lessay fair will ultimately not take place!
“It is impossible to ensure compliance with barrier gestures and physical distancing”
State services in La Manche continue to argue as follows:
However, the prefect of La Manche does not plan to grant an exemption to the maximum level of 5,000 people set by the decree of July 10, 2020, to prevent any risk of the virus spreading. Moreover, in view of the usual participation, it is impossible to ensure the respect of barrier gestures and physical distancing, and to manage the influx of the public around the demonstrations. “
This is why, in conclusion:
The prefect of La Manche therefore decided not to issue a receipt for the agricultural fair and the funfair of Lessay, which were to take place from September 11 to 13, 2020. “
The reactions will be found in our paper edition of this Friday, August 21.
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