Energy sobriety is not an empty word in Vincennes! While the town hall had been in the habit for more than fifteen years of installing an ice rink on the forecourt of the Town Hall for the end-of-year celebrations, it decided to replace it this year with… a roller-skating track of 600 m2. “It seemed to us rather inappropriate in this period of restriction of energy consumption to set up the traditional ice rink when it is a particularly energy-intensive installation”, explains the mayor UDI, Charlotte Libert-Albanel.
“Nevertheless, we wanted to preserve the atmosphere of the end-of-year celebrations, and in particular for young audiences and teenagers. We have therefore kept the spirit of sliding and partying by transforming the ice rink into a roller track, she adds. Sobriety does not mean austerity”.
“We also had to change our habits”
The UCPA takes care of the animation, helps with learning and organizes competitions and theme evenings. “It seemed important to us to make people understand that times were changing and that we too had to change our habits, slips the aedile of Vincennes. Even if the budget for the ice rink was around 10,000 euros out of an annual budget for the City of 3 million euros. This change therefore has great symbolic value.
In the same vein, in Vincennes, the illuminations in the streets will only be visible this year from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., whereas in previous years they were also lit in the morning. “We have also reduced the period of these Christmas lights by one week”, concludes Charlotte Libert-Albanel. The roller track is open until January 2, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with a lunch break.