In the red zone for bird flu. There was the fate of the birds of Monte Urpinu at the top of the thoughts of Cagliari citizens, after the closure of the park imposed after the discovery of an outbreak of the disease which had caused the death of some specimens.
But there are also commercial activities suffering the consequences of the closure of the gates on the hill of Cagliari : two kiosks, which have been closed since the evening of 4 November, when the mayor Paolo Truzzu had issued the ordinance which established the prohibition of access for health reasons, on indication of the Ats which feared the spread of the infection.
“We haven't been working since then. And we don't know when we will be able to reopen » , explains Simone Meloni, who since 2019 with his cooperative has managed the Bar Vidal inside the park, a municipal structure entrusted to a private individual. «We have six employees», he adds, «and in agreement with the unions we have started the request for layoffs. In a few days we will arrive at the round closing month. I ask», is the appeal, «that Ats let people know if the health emergency is over or not. In the event of a positive response, Monte Urpinu will reopen to the public.
Meloni looks around and notices a difference in treatment: «Next door», he says, «there is the tennis club, with commercial activities inside. Everything was reopened there almost immediately. Yet even from them birds enter, like peacocks. Why them yes and not us?», he wonders.
Not a lucky management: « We took over the kiosk at the end of July 2019. We waited for the spring of 2020 for the warm season and Covid arrived, with its closures. This was supposed to be the first full year. Instead here is the bird flu ».
In the meantime, the expenses do not stop: « The contract provides that the coop also takes care of the lighting of the area. I keep the lights on, I'll have to pay the bill. I wonder if the Municipality will give me a hand». Meanwhile, rent payments have been suspended. But no money is coming in: the park remains barred and not even the Town Hall can know when it will reopen.
Henry Fresu
