Lincoln Christmas Market: Plan to bring back event rejected

The 2022 Lincoln Christmas Market attracted more than 300,000 people over four days

Councillors have rejected plans to bring back one of the UK's longest-running Christmas markets.

Lincoln Christmas Market was axed in 2023 by the city's Labour-led council due to concerns about overcrowding.

The Conservative opposition proposed a £190,000 increase to City of Council's budget to fund the market's return.

However, council leader Ric Metcalfe said the Conservatives had not explained how they "would satisfy safety requirements".

Councillor Tom Dyer, leader of the Conservative group, put forward the proposal at a meeting on Tuesday.

Councillor Metcalfe, leader of the Labour group, said £190,000 to bring back the market - first held in 1982 - was "simply not enough".

Labour councillors argued the proposal to bring back Lincoln Christmas Market was flawed

Councillor Martin Christopher (Lib Dems) claimed there was "very little democracy" at the meeting with the Christmas market being a "classic example".

Mr Metcalfe responded: "I did no less than 17 interviews with local and national media explaining what the council did and why we did it.

"To suggest it happened behind closed doors is frankly wrong."

Councillor Gary Hewson (Labour) said he acknowledged the market generated income.

However, he said he was unable to support the event back because he felt most of the money "goes out of the city".

City of Lincoln Council replaced the market with a series of smaller offerings throughout 2023.