The organisers of Knaresborough Christmas Market are now confident that the event will go ahead this year after a land ownership dispute was resolved.
Harrogate Borough Council had given the organisers’ event management plan the stamp of approval in previous years. But it had not done so this year.
Event management plans set out details of events and are key documents for emergency services and insurers.
Hazel Haas, one of the organisers, told the Stray Ferret previously that without third party approval, the insurance premiums would go up and that would in turn put the event at risk.
So when North Yorkshire County Council officers said this morning that they would step up and ratify the plan it came as a major relief to Mr Haas. She said:
“I have a meeting tonight with the Knaresborough Christmas Market committee where we will discuss this. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster.
“We have now resolved the issued over the ownership of the land.
“Obviously it is all subject to approval, but we can now kickstart the event and start to get some stalls booked in for later this year.
“This is also good news for all of the events Knaresborough has booked in for the festive calendar as well.”
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The Knaresborough market is due to be held on the first weekend of December in its usual location of Market Place.
Karl Battersby, corporate director for business and environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council, said:
“Working jointly with colleagues at Harrogate Borough Council, both organisations have been able to offer guidance to the organiser on how to host an event successfully, and we are pleased that planning for the Knaresborough Christmas market is able to move forward.”
