2024-02-02 06:02:36
It was a year ago, almost to the day. A few hours before the reopening of their creperie located in Erquy (Côtes-d’Armor), Alex and Marlène received a letter summoning them for summary proceedings. The reason: the crepe smells emanating from their restaurant bothered their neighbor. Originally from the Paris region, the man, now 75 years old, had used this house as a second home for a long time before settling there permanently. That’s where the trouble started.
Retired, he and his wife could no longer stand the smells and noise emanating from the Fisherman’s Crêperie located right next door, going so far as to take legal action. A year after the media storm, 20 Minutes took advantage of Candlemas to put things straight on the billig. Just to see where this affair was, which had made the rounds in the French media. Apart from a few details, nothing has changed.
The mower and the hedge trimmer, other sources of comments
By the time he picks up his phone, Alex Polge is in full preparations and busy everywhere. His creperie is due to reopen on February 10 after a usual three-month winter break. During this period, one might think the couple was sheltered from the neighbor’s criticism. But not so much. Living on site, the restaurateurs assure that they are subject to comments all year round. “You have to live with us to believe it. As soon as I use the mower or trim the hedge, I have the right to comments. We try not to think about it in everyday life but I swear to you that it becomes oppressive and that it hits the system.”
In the rue de Plaine Garenne, the neighbors no longer speak to each other. Unable to find an amicable solution, they had to go before a judge who had appointed an expert in May to assess the nuisance. All the parties were brought together in July in the presence of lawyers in order to listen to everyone’s grievances and arguments. “The meeting went well and everyone was able to be heard. Justice must be able to serve to ease tensions. For me, the expertise must make it possible to close the debate and to know whether there is an abnormal disturbance in the neighborhood or not,” recalls Me Christophe Sanson, who defends the couple of neighbors. “We think we did the right thing. We are waiting for the courts to decide and tell us if we are within our rights. This creperie was our dream, we won’t give up,” assures Alex.
Incredible media coverage
The question that arises today is how the expert will be able to assess the damage linked to the odor. To get an idea, he had to make two unannounced visits during the year, including one during the high season. But to decide, he won’t be able to use anything other than his nose. “For noise, it’s quite easy to take measurements. For odors, it is often up to the acoustician expert to say whether he smells something or not, whether it is permanent,” explains the lawyer specializing in the issue. To check the correct operation of the extractor, it is not impossible for colored incense sticks to be burned, in order to verify that the installation is compliant. In short, not easy. And above all not super precise.
In the meantime, the couple of restaurateurs can be satisfied with one thing: with this improbable media coverage, their establishment is known to everyone and is regularly full. “We received incredible support,” they say.
Our Crêpe file
The expert had one year to submit his report and will have to present his conclusions during the month of May, at the latest. It will then be up to the courts to say whether or not this creperie smells too much like crepes. And if this constitutes an abnormal disturbance in the neighborhood.
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