Lincoln Christmas Market cancellation to be scrutinised

Plans to cancel the popular coach destination of Lincoln Christmas Market are to be scrutinised.

The city’s Conservative Group on the Council is formally calling in the decision by the city’s Labour Councillors. This means a scrutiny committee of the Council will have to look again at how this decision was made.

The news that the market would end comes after its busiest ever year. Lincoln City Council’s executive committee meeting highlighted that the crowds gathering at the Market detract from the visitor experience.

“The plan by the Labour-run Lincoln City Council to end our wonderful City’s Christmas Market is shallow, stupid and shoddy” – Conservative MP, Karl McCartney

Reacting to the decision, Conservative MP, Karl McCartney, said on social media: “The plan by the Labour-run Lincoln City Council to end our wonderful City’s Christmas Market is shallow, stupid and shoddy.

“Our Christmas Market is part of the city’s rich heritage as much as the cathedral, castle and the Romans. To cancel it will clearly damage tourism, traders and Lincoln’s way of life.

“Once again, the Labour run City Council has proved it does not understand or really care about Lincoln at all. Their so-called alternative plans do not cut the mustard and will not be as popular as the market which attracts people from across the UK and the world, and puts our wonderful city on the map. They must think again and come up with plans with respect to its management instead, mindful of everyone’s safety. That is what responsible councils do.”

After publishing the news that the Market is planned to be cancelled, B&CB received a message from Andy Jupp, Lincoln Christmas Market trader and director of Paperlights, who said: “Lincoln Christmas Market is to the Christmas market industry what the Glastonbury Festival is to the festival industry. It is an event of deep cultural significance and clarity.

“For the last 27 years I have traded at the market. Firstly from the side of a rust red van on Westgate, then for so many years at the bottom of the Lincoln Castle ramp at the entrance to Stokes and the lawns.

“We traded every year since then, except for the infamous year of the snow, and the yet more infamous year of the no snow.

“And here’s the thing – I shall be a poorer man for this. Financially, yes, of course. By the type of percentage that would change a local governments fiscal course. One of those rare occasions where trickle-down economics actually works.

“Lincoln Christmas Market will always be the Christmas market. Its character was without match. I challenge us all to define it. A coming together of so many parts. Invisible to most, the event was such a success because of the effort of so many.”

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