The Parisian neighbourhood fighting against Burger King opening

Paris, Feb 10 (EFE).- (Camera: Lydia Hernández) Popular for its workers' struggle and for being home to the famous Père Lachaise cemetery, the 20th arrondissement of Paris has risen against the opening of a Burger King, which the residents accuse of inciting a poor diet and creating noise and bad smells.

A few meters from the famous cemetery where Jim Morrison, Marcel Proust or Frédéric Chopin lie, Geraldine and Ivan hand out flyers to passers-by near the future location of the well-known brand with a concise message: "No to Burger King in Martin Nadaud Square ".

In just over a week, more than 15,000 people have signed the petition and have forced the local authorities to take action.

FOOTAGE OF THE PÈRE LACHAISE NEIGHBORHOOD IN PARIS, WHERE NEIGHBORS FIGHT AGAINST THE OPENING OF A BURGER KING. SOUNDBITES OF NEIGHBORS GERALDINE, IVAN, AND THE MAYOR OF THE 20TH ARRONDISSEMENT OF PARIS, ÉRIC PLIEZ.

-Geraldine: "We launched the petition without many expectations and we were very surprised by the consequences. I wrote the petition together with a neighbor without really knowing how we could organize ourselves and the effect has been enormous. First of all, we hope that the corresponding authorizations do not get ahead. Regarding a possible increase in the mobilizations, I cannot speak on behalf of all the neighbors, they communicate with each other, it could be at a second moment, if it is necessary to go further in the demands".

-Ivan: 1.- "This is a neighborhood that is very saturated with traffic and it is in the process of promoting the pedestrianization of the neighborhood so installing a fast-food will generate more traffic and danger associated with motorcycle delivery people. I wonder if it is appropriate to install an activity like that of the Burger".

-Éric Pliez, Mayor of the 20th arrondissement of Paris: "It is not about saying if we are in favor or against fast food in general, what we are saying is that, today, in this neighborhood, there is already too much fast food, we do not need more of that type of products, we have chains that I don't want to cite less than 100 meters away. We have a sufficient offer in the neighborhood for all tastes and prices. We do not want to say that we are for or against a specific product. However, our goal is that there are local and healthy food stores that are opposed to junk food, in that sense Burger King does not meet what we are looking for in the 20th arrondissement".

"If the neighborhood community gives its approval to the project, we cannot do anything, because it seems that they already have the necessary smoke extractors. Our power is to act if there is a request to install a terrace or if they want to modifying the façade, something that we will oppose, within the limits that the law allows us, we cannot buy the premises because it is not even for sale".