French and Riviera News Friday 15th September 2023

Noise and dust nuisance as Acropolis is demolished - Residents in central Nice have complained that the demolition of the Acropolis convention centre is harming their health. Cars and balconies are being covered in dust - despite water jets being used to wet the rubble and try to reduce the dust in the air. Listener Marco Barsotti lives opposite the vast demolition site. He says the dust and noise are a nuisance. The Acropolis is being demolished to make way for an extension of Nice's Coulée Verte.

Garibaldi cleanliness complaints - Meanwhile, locals and traders on the neighbouring Place Garibaldi have appealed to Nice town hall to build a public toilet, faced with growing public hygiene problems. Local officials have visited the square and talked to worried restaurant and cafe owners who say Place Garibaldi resembles an open-air toilet at times. More municipal police patrols aim to stop people in the act.

Today’s air traffic control strike called off - A planned strike today by French air traffic controllers has been called off, with unions promising not to take any further strike action until after next summer's Paris Olympics. The SNCTA trade union had initially called a one-day walkout for today, which could have led to cancellations at Nice airport and had an impact on people travelling to the Rugby World Cup. Unions and management at France's civil aviation authority, the DGAC, have reached an agreement over pay. The agreement includes a commitment by air traffic controllers not to go on strike any time before nex