Regional court supports Rome mayor as deadline looms

The regional administrative tribunal (TAR) of the Lazio region has backed the plan by Rome mayor Ignazio Marino to move street traders from areas of archaeological and historic importance in the city centre by 10 July.

The court made its ruling on 7 July, three days before the deadline.

The city has given orders to move the mobile vans several times previously but has always met strong opposition from the street traders and their backers.

Under the new regulations, mobile snack bars, souvenir stalls and flower sellers operating in tourist areas of the centro storico will be required to relocate to less obtrusive areas or face having their goods and vehicles seized by police.

The move is seen as a head-to-head between Marino and the powerful and politically-connected Tredicine family which owns the majority of the sandwich bars.

A recent article in Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that the Tredicines pay just €325 a month to park trucks in the best spots (about €10 a day) and €250 for the smaller vehicles (€8 a day).