December 7, 2010 3.23 pm This story is over 159 months old

Council to refund cancelled Christmas market traders

Amends: The City Council said it will reimburse stallholders from the cancelled Lincoln Christmas Market.

Stallholders who paid for a pitch at the cancelled Lincoln Christmas Market can receive a full refund for their stall fees, the City of Lincoln Council said on Tuesday.

Following a meeting on December 7, the City Council said it would try to make amends with stallholders who were meant to come at the market.

The Lincoln Christmas Market was cancelled for the first time in 28 years on December 1 due to severe weather conditions and safety implications.

Around 160,000 people were expected to come at the Christmas market, which is believed to generate around £10million for the local economy annually.

The council said that all 262 stallholders, who paid between £450 and £5,465 for a pitch, can receive a full refund of the cost of their stall.

Alternatively, stallholders can get a stall of equal size at next year’s Christmas market, instead of receiving a refund.

The council will also offer free parking on December 11 and 12 at its uphill car parks, The Lawn, Westgate (1,2 and 3), Langworth Gate, St Paul’s Lane and Castle Hill.

This is to encourage visitors to shop in the Bailgate area, where businesses lost associated trade from the Christmas market.

“We believe that offering a full refund is the right thing to do,” said City of Lincoln Council Leader Councillor Darren Grice.

“Having had the chance to look at the finances, we have set out a range of measures that, hopefully, will go some way to softening the blow for stallholders and local businesses.”

“We were keen to support the Bailgate promotional weekend with free parking, as we know that many businesses rely heavily on the Christmas Market to boost their annual income,” added City Council’s Deputy Leader Marc Jones.

Source: City of Lincoln Council