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12
Aug 2021
Harrogate Borough Council has dropped the organisers of Harrogate Christmas Market after a row over the location.
Council leader Richard Cooper described the volunteers who created and built up the event as the "former Christmas market organisers" in a statement released today.
He added the council was now having formal discussions with a new organisation about running the market.
A total of 170 traders and 53 coaches had booked to attend this year's event on Montpellier Hill from November 18 to 21. Some 85,000 people were expected to attend and contribute about £2.5 million to the district's economy. It is now unclear what will happen to those bookings or indeed the event.
Today's news comes just two weeks after the council refused a licence for the Christmas market — it said the emergency services had raised safety concerns about the location on Montpellier Hill.
The Stray Ferret has asked the council several times without success to see the advice it received from the emergency services.
Cllr Cooper, who has previously warned Mr Dunsby not to try to galvanise public support for his cause, said people were now bored of the row and it was time to move on. But he said the council was prepared to meet the organisers to explore alternative locations.
However, Brian Dunsby, one of three co-organisers of the market, said he has offered several times to meet the council to discuss concerns.
Brian Dunsby, co-organiser of Harrogate Christmas Market:
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