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30
Jul 2021
Blues Bar owner: Christmas Market cancellation will have 'long term repercussions' for Harrogate
A Harrogate bar owner has warned that the cancellation of Harrogate Christmas Market will have "long-term repercussions" on local businesses.
Simon Colgan, owner of the Blues Bar in Harrogate, criticised Harrogate Borough Council for cancelling the Christmas Market and says it will affect local trade.
The event was due to take place from November 18 to 21. A total of 170 traders and 53 coaches had booked to attend the event.
The council issued a statement yesterday evening saying “the event management plan did not fully take into account the risk of overcrowding and necessary evacuation procedures, counter-terrorism measures and the ongoing risk of covid”.
Mr Colgan told the Stray Ferret that he did not agree with the reasons put forward by HBC. He suggested if there were genuine concerns about covid, limited tickets could have been sold as happened at the recent Great Yorkshire Show and the Theakston's Crime Writing Festival.
He said the council should be doing more to support local businesses after a difficult 18 months:
Mr Colgan said the Christmas Market is usually one of the best few days of trade in the year for the bar and music venue on Montpellier Parade.
He added:
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Brian Dunsby, organiser of the Christmas Market, said this morning that he has still not spoken to anyone from the council after he first heard about the news through the Stray Ferret yesterday.
He said he does not have any contingency plans in place for alternative venues, such as the Great Yorkshire Showground. He said the showground "doesn't serve the purpose" of supporting traders and businesses in Harrogate town centre.
He said he plans to appeal the decision by HBC.
The Stray Ferret asked Conservative Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones if he agreed with the council's decision but we did not receive a response.
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