Many Clausen residents are up in arms because of the additional traffic and noise generated by visitors to the new Rives de Clausen restaurants and bars on the left bank of the Alzette. Visitors, on the other hand, are angry at the lack of parking spaces and at the latest city council decision (applicable since 20 January) to charge 1.50 euros per hour to non-residents who park between 6 p.m. and 3 a.m. in the streets around the nightlife Mecca. The council itself appears to be exasperated, having underestimated the popularity of the bar and restaurant attractions and the annoyance caused to local residents. And the bar and restaurant owners now fear they may have their licences withdrawn following the launch of legal proceedings by a group of local residents that challenges the provisional commercial authorisation granted by the city council. The administrative court could decide that the complex requires a Class 1 Commodo authorisation from the environmental administration – a process that can take several months and might not result in a favourable outcome for the businesses.

A total of 3300 traffic violation tickets were handed out to cars parked illegally in the vicinity between 1 November and 11 December 2008. Luxembourg City mayor Paul Helminger revealed those figures at a meeting with residents before Christmas. Although the city has organised shuttle busses to the area from the Glacis at weekends, many visitors still drive to Clausen by car – some even accept a fine as the price they have to pay for that luxury. Helminger has even said the council is considering blocking certain streets no non-residents. But the new problems have also affected established business in the area whose regular customers are now vexed at having to pay to park in the proximity of their usual bar or restaurant – that is if they can find a parking space at all.