HIGH winds will leave thousands of shoppers disappointed by the late cancellation of today’s Christmas Market.
The popular town centre Christmas market in Wrexham has become an established event in the town’s festive calendar, but health and safety concerns have caused organisers to scrap this year’s market on Church Street and in the grounds of St Giles Church.
Announcing the decision yesterday, Wrexham Council confirmed the event, which was likely to have featured more than 70 stalls, will not go ahead this year.
Previous Christmas markets have.
seen several thousand shoppers attend the market, helping generate increased footfall for Wrexham.
Alex Jones, owner of The Bank Bar, near St Giles Church, and chairman of Wrexham Chamber of Trade, said he believed the cancellation would be a blow to traders in the town.
“It’s a disappointment but it seems a risk assessment was held which has meant this can not go ahead,” he said.
“Unfortunately there are businesses who may have ordered extra food or planned to stay open for longer hours because of the market who will be affected by this decision, announced the day before it was due to happen.
“I had made extra orders but am hopeful the demand will still be there for us not to lose out.
“People were really looking forward to the Christmas market and were excited by it.
“This event brings a lot of people into Wrexham and helps boost trade in the town, so it is a shame it will not be going ahead.”
Mr Jones said he understood some stalls would still be open in St Giles’ Churchyard, although a Wrexham Council spokesman said they had not been made aware of this.
The spokesman confirmed the weekly market in Wrexham town centre will also be cancelled today.
“It is with regret that organisers have had to cancel the popular Christmas market in Wrexham town centre,” said the spokesman.
“This is due to the high winds [yesterday] which are expected to get worse [today].
“As a result we cannot guarantee public safety. Please let family and friends know of this decision.
“Wrexham Council and the stallholders are naturally extremely disappointed but stress that the matter is beyond their control.”