A village in Lincolnshire has been forced to cancel their Christmas fair, after being told to block roads due to the risk of a potential terrorist attack.
Woodhall Spa’s Christmas fair attracts around 4,000 people per year, but organisers from The Rotary Club were forced into cancelling the event which was scheduled for December 6, due to the quantity of health and safety paperwork and measures imposed.
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The organisers had been told to block off two roads to “prevent drive-through terrorism”, find the funds to employ a traffic management company and “draft and issue written guidance to marshalls and stewards on procedures in the event of a terrorist attack.”
The fair, which only lasts for four hours, typically has over 100 stalls and brings in local families for a single evening, but had to be cancelled due to it no longer being feasible.
Woodhall Spa Christmas Fair will not be going ahead this year
The Rotary Club wrote online: “It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that the Woodhall Spa Christmas Fayre will not take place this year.
“Unfortunately, it seems that even these measures and the completion of a 67-page Health and Safety compliance document (for the 2023 event) are not enough and 2024 would see this documentation almost double in volume.
“It is abundantly clear that the powers that be do not want the Woodhall Spa Christmas Fayre to continue in its present form.”
Deputy leader of the council, Graham Marsh, did empathise with those looking forward to the event, saying it would be “tragic” if it didn’t go ahead.
Santa from Woodhall Spa’s Christmas Fair last year
But, he said the authority “has to open people’s eyes to litigation because we live in such litigious times now.”
The council has offered two new council members of staff to help work through all the paperwork.
This is not the first time a Christmas market has been cancelled in Lincolnshire, when last year, the UK’s oldest Christmas market was cancelled.
Lincoln’s Christmas market, attracted over 300,000 people and boosted the city’s economy by £15million.
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Lincoln Christmas Market used to attract over 300,000 people
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Labour City of Lincoln councillors rejected a motion to reverse the decision to close Lincoln’s Christmas Market, saying: “Having so many people in a small area can be uncomfortable.”
A council spokesman added: “The council is looking at how it can support local events by providing officer support and advice, including assistance with obtaining SAG [Safety Advisory Group] advice for events.
“Our guidance and support aims to ensure this, while also safeguarding organisers and mitigating the impact of any potential consequences.”
Several events in Lincolnshire have fallen to the sword of cancellation, including the Woodhall Spa 1940s Festival and the Lincolnshire Steam Rally.
This year, the Rotary Club are still planning on smaller celebrations for the people in Woodhall Spa.
The organisers wrote: “There will be Christmas Celebrations taking place throughout the village which don’t involve road closures and unrealistic compliance requirements.
“Friday, December 6 will see Late Night Shopping return to the village calendar with Santa welcoming children to his Grotto in The Inn.
“If not the crowds that we have come to expect at the Fayre in recent years, we still expect a substantial influx of locals and visitors soaking up the festive atmosphere of the evening and enjoying the light show”
