Complaints to the police, disputes, decisions: The rags burn between the Neuville snack bar and its neighbors. The overwhelmed restaurant owner fears having to put the key under the door if nothing changes.
Parking is at the heart of this years-long conflict between the snack bar on Route 138 near Quebec City and area residents.
The company, which has been owned by Denis Bergeron and Nathalie Fortin for five years, has a dozen parking spaces. On busy summer days, customers have no choice but to park their vehicle along Route 138, which is illegal.
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White lines on the ground alert motorists that parking on the shoulder of Route 138 is prohibited.
Photo: Radio Canada / Jeremie Camirand
In recent years, the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité Durable du Québec (MTMD) has tightened regulations in this sector, posting signs and drawing white lines at the side of the road to remind motorists not to stop at the side of the road for safety reasons.
Supplements that, according to Denis Bergeron, had the opposite effect.
It has become a very dangerous sector, he says. Because people are looking for each other, people try to park as best they can.
He estimates these restrictions are costing him half of his sales. He would like the regulations in the industry to be relaxed so that customers can park. He sent formal notices to the municipality and ministry asking them to back down.
Of course we don’t have a lot of parking but the diner has been around since 1954… it’s not a new situation for the city or MTQ (sic)
Neuville Mayor Bernard Gaudreau declined to comment on the case. The MTMD also rejected our request for an interview in view of the legal validity of the file.
difficult neighborhood
Denis Bergeron says he is a victim of the zeal of his neighbors, who would play ‘police’ to enforce the regulations.
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The Neuville snack bar was founded in 1954.
Photo: Radio Canada / Jeremie Camirand
THE [voisins] decided their shoulders were theirs and decided they were the Surete du Québec police! , he describes.
Tensions escalated this week when the owner said he had filed a harassment report with the police.
He alleges a neighbor stalked, accosted and “insulted” customers who had parked on the edge of 138. Inadmissible gestures, according to Denis Bergeron. It had become aggressive, it had become violent.
security issues
Gaston Robitaille has been a neighbor of the snack bar for almost 25 years. He believes the owners are the architects of their own misfortunes, having expanded their diner without making sure they have ample parking.
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Neuville Snack’s presence in the area is causing safety issues on Route 138, according to neighbors.
Photo: Radio Canada / Jeremie Camirand
He supports the ministry’s tightening of rules, measures taken to keep people safe that have since calmed the industry.
We’re on the 138, we’re aware that cars can pass, but at some point: there will be an accident.
Sharon Bergeron, also a neighbor of the shop, regrets the harassment.
She concedes traffic at the diner is a safety hazard, but believes some neighbors are showing “intolerance” to the shop.
She wants the parties to come to an agreement and the quarrels to stop.
Denis Bergeron says he is “burned out” by this conflict that has been going on for several years. He fears lost income and fatigue will put him out of business.
In collaboration with Jérémie Camirand, Marie-Claire Giffard and Louis-Simon Lapointe