HARROGATE CHRISTMAS MARKET – ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS

Comments:

Good access and egress for both traders & visitors.

Numerous tarmac footpaths around and across the site for pedestrians

Plenty of grass areas adjacent to footpaths ideal for marquees gazebos and stalls.

Plenty of trees for suspending electric cables, lights, decorations and signage

Good access for coaches dropping-off and picking-up on Montpellier Hill.

Minimal impact on neighbours (business and residential)

Very close to the retail core and easily identifiable to passing footfall.

Semi-sheltered location with the good sight lines and control (subject to set up)

Grassed areas have been hollow-tine spiked and sanded to improve drainage over several years

Security facilitated by the closure of Montpellier Hill and Esplanade during the Market

Short walking distance from several multi-storey car parks for visitors.

Short route for a shuttle bus service to the Town Centre

Legal Considerations:

The Stray Act 1985.  Byelaws limit type and duration of usage per year.

Charity Commission Guidance notes – charitable causes only – not commercial events.

Comments:  

Colonnades could only accommodate chalets. Most grassed areas are too sloping for stalls.

Inadequate access for traders’ vehicles, trailers and generators on narrow roads. 

Suspending parking all around would seriously inconvenience many businesses and residents

Serious risk of damage to beautiful gardens and lawns – very soft in winter.   Little hard-standing.

Good pedestrian access/egress but away from the retail core so difficult to see where the value added to town centre businesses will come from.  Ambience may be difficult to achieve.  Toilets are inadequate.

Visitor experience is detrimentally affected because it’s a single location so permeability / boredom factor is not catered for.  No other locations of visitor interest nearby.  Too far from Town Centre shops, cafes and restaurants. Difficult for shuttle bus to operate efficiently – nowhere to pull-up and unload or load..

Security wise the site is already mainly enclosed so need for concrete barriers would be minimised.

Legal Considerations:

Road Closure orders.  Difficult access and no drop-off area for visiting coaches.

Possible legal challenge re use of prime civic space.

Comments:

Too far from Town Centre and so would not benefit Town Centre traders. Good access from major roads and service roads within the site.  

Plenty of hard standing for chalets and grassed areas for marquees and stalls. Plenty of space for visitor parking although mostly on grass which could be unsuitable in winter. 

Coaches could access via Railway Road and park on hard standing area near Brown Gate. 

Would require extra shuttle buses to serve this location from Town Centre.

Evidence gathered from HBC Economic Development Service confirms that any event here does not encourage secondary visits to the town centre.  As such no secondary benefit for Harrogate shops & cafes is generated in terms of passing trade.

Legal Considerations:

Commercial and legal agreement will be required to use the site. Substantial fees to pay for its use.

Commercial events usually take place at our time of the year.

Comments:  

Insufficient space to accommodate HCM marquees, stalls, funfair and Father Christmas.

Closure of the areas two lanes between West Park and Station Parade will severely affect a large number of professional businesses, the Law Courts and the Public Library.

Location will need agreement from a large group of businesses which will be impacted.

Nowhere for coaches to drop off and pick-up passengers.

Possible loss of on-street car parking income.  Regular bus route with no obvious alternative route. 

Tarmac surface is unsuitable for many traders using gazebos or marquees.  OK for chalets and trailers.

Legal Considerations:

Road Closure order.

Failure to decant in time may generate additional legal costs

Comments:  

Insufficient space to accommodate HCM marquees, stalls, funfair and Father Christmas.

Difficult location in between flower beds, trees and street furniture. Road too narrow for chalets and stalls.

Location will need agreement from a large group of businesses which will be impacted.

Deliveries to shops and restaurants restricted to early morning and evening only.

Access and egress issues for M&S daily deliveries / emergency corridors to current shops.

Royal Mail Postal Service and numerous bullion collections from the many banks.

Potential fire risk with market stalls in close proximity to many shops and offices.

Legal Considerations:

Road Closures and the need to maintain safety corridor for emergency access.

Notification to all shop fitting works/down time and loss of productivity/failure to complete claims

Comments:

Too remote as a location, will offer very little in the way of additional visitor experience. Site is exposed to the elements especially in the winter months.  No tarmac roads across the site.  Very few tarmac footpaths. Grassland here prone to flooding and unsuitable for vehicles and trailers.

No parking permitted on adjacent main roads.  No hard standing areas for generators or heavy vehicles.

Whole area would need boarding, as done for Tour de France trailers & caravans.  Very expensive!

Oatlands Stray is used for commercial vehicles, circuses & bonfire – too far from Town Centre, etc.

Both locations would have problems for coaches dropping off and picking up passengers

West Park might be near enough to the Town Centre, but Oatlands is too far away.

Too far away to benefit the Town Centre shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. 

Too far away from the bus and rail stations – although we could extend the shuttle bus – at a price!

Too far away from the Town’s multi-storey car parks for visitors

Very few trees to protect the site in windy weather – and to suspend electric lights from.

The whole of these two sites is vulnerable to hostile vehicle attack and is impossible to protect against terrorist encroachment.

Legal Considerations:

The Stray Act 1985.  Byelaws limit type and duration of usage per year.

Charity Commission Guidance notes – charitable causes only – not commercial events.

Comments:

Not large enough for normal attendance of stalls and visitors.

Current location for coach parking and commercial vehicles which would be displaced.

Designated area for Convention Centre exhibitors and contractors.  Where would ours park?

Close to existing retail units and if used this reduces capacity for cars to park nearby.

Impact on the immediate vicinity/displacement of normal car parking habits.

Very poor access around the ASDA site and adjoining narrow roads and low bridge.

Very poor environment with no “ambience” potential for the Christmas Market

Legal Considerations:

Need to negotiate terms with the new owners of ASDA

Possible legal claims by existing businesses re loss of trade due to reduced car parking.

Comments: 

Grounds are used for occasional exhibitions and conferences but not anywhere near large enough for the Harrogate Christmas Market.

Impossible to get access for coach parking and large commercial vehicles

Normally used for Convention Centre exhibitors and contractors.

Impact on the immediate vicinity/displacement of normal car parking habits.

Very poor access around the site and adjoining narrow roads. 

Legal Considerations:

Need to negotiate terms with the new owners

Comments: 

Grounds are used for occasional exhibitions and conferences but not anywhere near large enough for the Harrogate Christmas Market.

Good access for coach drop-off and parking and large commercial vehicles

Normally used for Convention Centre exhibitors and contractors.

Impact on the immediate vicinity/displacement of normal car parking habits.

Development work planned around the rear of the Hotel

Very poor access around the site and the adjoining busy main road. (A61) 

Legal Considerations:

Need to negotiate terms with the new owners

Comments: 

Too remote as a location. It will offer nothing in the way of additional visitor experience.

Limited event space around new Matrix Halls with grass-crete borders good for stalls.

Chalets could be accommodated on the roadways – but there is no space for Marquees or Funfair.

Good access for shuttle bus and for coach drop-off and parking and for large commercial vehicles.

Nearby railway station on the Harrogate Line could be useful for visitors

Impact on the immediate vicinity/displacement of normal car parking habits during weekdays.

Legal Considerations:

Need to negotiate terms with the new owners and/or tenants.

Comments: 

Too remote as a location. It will offer nothing in the way of additional visitor experience.

Indoor location only – lack of any outdoor space.

Chalets could be accommodates inside the halls – but there is no space for Marquees or Funfair.

Poor access for coach drop-off and parking and for large commercial vehicles.

Impact on the immediate vicinity/displacement of normal car parking habits during weekdays.

Knitting & Stitching Event is on during our preferred dates.

Legal Considerations:

Need to negotiate terms with the owners and/or tenants.

Conclusion –  by Howard Heaton, Westmorland Sheepskins

“The Market needs to serve two purposes.  To make money for traders , but also and more importantly for Harrogate to give the visitors a great experience of Harrogate and make then spend money in the shops and even more importantly, make them want to come back again to the Town in the future.”

Based on an Appendix in the Consultant’s Report compiled by Malcolm Veigas for Harrogate Borough Council. 2016.  Updated by Brian L Dunsby 2018 & 2021