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25
Aug 2021
Harrogate council began talks with new Christmas market organiser in March
Harrogate Borough Council began talks with MarketPlace Europe about staging a new Christmas market in March — four months before it dropped the original organisers.
The council has said it refused a licence to Harrogate Christmas Market Ltd, the previous organisers, because the emergency services had raised safety concerns about the site on Montpellier Hill.
However, Brian Dunsby, one of the previous organisers that set-up the market in 2012, has been suspicious of the reasons given and last week accused the council of "having their own agenda".
The council, which promotes a 'Buy Local' message, said yesterday it began "low-level" talks with the Manchester-based events firm in March.
It said this was to ensure a contingency option was in place "in case the Montpellier Hill option was not able to proceed".
Last week, Conservative council leader Richard Cooper said he expected the new company, which will operate a 10-day Christmas market in December, would bring a "first-class offering" to Harrogate.
Read more:
- Harrogate MP welcomes new Christmas market as local traders move on
- Original Harrogate Christmas Market organisers admit defeat in fight to stage event
A council spokesperson told the Stray Ferret yesterday:
The Stray Ferret has contacted MarketPlace Europe about its plans for the Harrogate Christmas market but has not received a response.
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