Stalls from Wenceslas Square will disappear by the end of the week

Prague - Most of the stalls should disappear from Wenceslas Square in Prague by the end of the week. CTK was told today by the spokesperson of the city council, Tereza Králová. Originally, only one stall with sausages was to remain in the square, but Prague ultimately decided to temporarily keep four stalls.
     One of the owners, Milan Janeček, told CTK that it is not possible to remove the stalls for safety reasons due to the Christmas markets taking place. "We can't get a crane and heavy equipment in there," said Janeček. Sellers will continue to offer popular sausages, as well as newspapers and flowers as usual, even at the beginning of the year. Only daily newspapers were not available today.
     According to the spokesperson of the city council, Tereza Králová, the stall owners were given a sufficient amount of time to clear the stalls. If this does not happen, the city intends to file a lawsuit for eviction, said councilor Aleksandra Udženija (ODS) to CTK. Additionally, from January 1, operators may not sell any goods, otherwise, they face sanctions from the trade office. However, according to Janeček, sales will continue. "It's pointless to close when it's there," he said.
     The discussion around the stalls on Wenceslas Square has been ongoing for several months. Originally, all but one were supposed to disappear. However, according to a new agreement, two food stalls will remain, one until mid-year, and the other until the end of 2013. The operation of one stall selling newspapers and one selling flowers will not be terminated yet. Moreover, two other sales points for newspapers, which are part of the city’s furnishings, and a seller of tourist tickets will also remain.
     During the year, the capital city wants to place glass kiosks in the shape of boats on the upper part of the square, designed by Cigler Marani Architects. It is not yet clear when this will happen. "Currently, the tender documentation for selecting the contractor and operator is being prepared," the spokesperson said.