Feelings still running high over Christmas Market

WE’VE been accused of being political and dishonest over our coverage of the cancellation of Lincoln Christmas Market.

As you can see from the page 5 story this hot potato has moved on, but we have been contacted by several people who have expressed strong feelings both for and against the decision. To prove we are neither political or dishonest we will publish those here.

MADAM - City of Lincoln Council has arbitrarily cancelled the immensely successful Lincoln Christmas market, a showcase for many other much larger cities to follow. To now publish the statement that they “did not have an alternative strategy to discuss with the public and therefore ignored the public view only reinforces the criticism of their folly. Surely the professional management of such a huge enterprise demands that they do have an alternative strategy. They should have thought through the possible relocation of events and a timetable to utilise the £260,000 budget set aside for this particular amazing event before acting.

40 years ago I was part of the Bailgate Rotary Club cohort along with FFN that set up in Castle Square for a four-day event that, like Topsy, grew to massive proportions. that raised considerable funds.

We know the identities of all the letter writers, but have withheld the names of those who have requested it.

How could any responsible body make a decision without consulting the public or local businesses?

More importantly, how could they cancel such an important event without having sought public and business alternatives prior to making that decision? It beggars belief. Rick Metcalfe should hold his head in shame for the naivety and crass stupidity of what his council representatives have done. What should they do in the absence of an alternative strategy? Start writing letters to the usual stakeholder stall and event firms apologising for the poor decision guaranteeing at least three and possibly five years of the market in order to establish a viable alternative strategy whilst giving sufficient time for the participants to adjust and meld into it.

Yours etc, Terence O’Halloran www.lincolnindependent.co.uk

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MADAM - re March’s Indie...I think that Karl McCartney might have a different view of the Xmas Market if his son had been at Hillsborough. Mercifully ours returned home safely but we waited for three desperate hours before receiving a message that he was safe.

Yours etc, Name and address supplied

MADAM - Obviously, your feeling that the Christmas Market was "dangerous" is not the opinion of other Lincoln residents, and it is outrageous that council members decided unilaterally to cancel it! This was a breach of duty to your tax base. Community input should have been requested at the very least! A step forward would be to revoke this unjust decision and ask for input from the community!

Yours etc

Terez Barbarossa

MADAM - Thank you for your Editor’s Comments in March. The Christmas Market could not have carried on the way it was. The decision could have been handled better, but it has come as a relief to some people. Yours etc, Name and address supplied

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