Coimbra City Council approves extraordinary support for traders at the D. Pedro V Municipal Market

At today’s Executive meeting, March 23, Coimbra City Council approved a proposal to adopt extraordinary support measures for traders, concessionaires and agricultural producers at the D. Pedro V Municipal Market. The support comes in the wake of the constraints caused by the landslide at Cerca de Santo Agostinho.

The measure provides for the exemption of various municipal fees during the month of April, as a way of mitigating the loss of activity and safeguarding the continuity of businesses and jobs.

Municipal response after conditioned operation of the Market

It should be remembered that the D. Pedro V Municipal Market reopened to the public on 19 March. Pedro V Municipal Market reopened to the public on February 19 with conditioned operation, after preventive closure for safety reasons, following the instability registered on the hillside.

Despite the reopening, there are still limitations on operation and access, with a direct impact on the influx of customers and the economic activity of operators.

According to the municipal technical information, the constraints include the closure of areas such as the fish sector, the unavailability of parking (now also due to the Metrobus works), changes in circulation and the relocation of traders, factors that have contributed to a reduction in sales.

Exemptions from fees to support traders and producers

In this context, the Municipality has adopted an exceptional exemption from various fees applicable at the Municipal Market, including: permanent occupancy fees for stalls and stores; daily occupancy fees for agricultural producers; ice supply; fees associated with the catering concession.

The measure will last for one month and will apply until April 2026. Based on the average revenue of previous months, the financial impact of the exemption is estimated at around 9,700 euros.

Exceptional measure to protect the local economy

According to the municipal services, the current situation is the result of an exceptional context, marked by adverse weather phenomena and ongoing interventions in the market’s surroundings, which have directly affected the normal functioning of the equipment.

The proposal falls within the legal mechanisms that allow the Municipality to adopt exceptional support measures in situations of relevant public interest, seeking to respond immediately to the difficulties felt by economic operators.

The measure aims to help maintain commercial activity at the D. Pedro V Municipal Market until normal operating conditions are restored.

Cambre de Coimbra approves extraordinary support for traders at the D. Pedro V Municipal Market – coimbra.pt