The charm of local Christmas events in Lincolnshire is at risk of fading, as event organisers are grappling with increasingly stringent health and safety regulations. As the festive season approaches, many long-standing community gatherings, such as the Horncastle Christmas Market and the Woodhall Spa Christmas Fair, face the possibility of cancellation due to what organisers describe as overwhelming paperwork and demands related to safety measures.
The escalating requirements, including provisions for terrorism threats, bomb scares, and even the potential of drones disrupting events, are becoming too complex for small volunteer groups to manage. Local authorities have been urged to reconsider the balance between public safety and the feasibility of hosting such cherished events.
A Growing Burden on Event Organisers
Brian Burbidge, who has organised the Horncastle Christmas Market for over a decade, expressed growing concern about the mounting complexity of the requirements imposed by East Lindsey District Council. “We’re expected to cover absolutely all eventualities, from bomb threats to counter-terrorism measures. It’s becoming more than we can handle,” he said. For Burbidge, the demands have made the process of organising a community event feel like an insurmountable challenge, and he fears for the future of the market, which has been a staple of the town for 12 years.
The challenges are not unique to Horncastle. The annual Christmas fair in Woodhall Spa, a beloved tradition for 25 years, has also been cancelled this year due to the burdensome health and safety protocols. The event, which typically attracts around 4,000 visitors, was scheduled to be held by the Woodhall Spa Rotary Club. However, organisers called the safety requirements an “insurmountable barrier.”
A statement from the Rotary Club outlined some of the specific challenges they faced, including a demand to block off two roads to prevent potential terrorist attacks and the obligation to hire a traffic management company. Furthermore, organisers were instructed to provide written guidelines for marshals and stewards on how to handle a terrorist attack. These demands have left many organisers feeling overwhelmed and unable to continue with their events.
Small Businesses Feeling the Impact
Local businesses in towns like Horncastle rely heavily on the success of community events like the Christmas market. Joanne Holderness, owner of Grace’s Boutique in Horncastle, voiced her fears about the consequences of losing the market. “The Christmas market is the best day of the year for our town. It brings in a lot of visitors, and independent shops like mine do really well,” she said. “If it were to end, it would be a devastating blow to our community.”
Holderness is not alone in her concerns. The ripple effects of cancelling these events extend beyond organisers and volunteers; local businesses that depend on the influx of visitors during the holiday season would face significant financial losses. For small towns, such as Horncastle and Woodhall Spa, Christmas markets are not just celebrations but vital economic lifelines for local traders.
Striking the Balance Between Safety and Feasibility
While many event organisers understand the need for safety, some believe the growing focus on potential risks is making it increasingly difficult to host events that have become an integral part of their communities. Concerns have been raised over the increasing presence of safety panels and the feeling of intimidation some organisers experience when navigating the approval process.
One event organiser described their experience with the East Lindsey health and safety panel as “brutal.” These panels, which include representatives from local agencies like the police and council, are meant to help ensure that events are as safe as possible. However, the process is often viewed as bureaucratic and overwhelming, with organisers fearing that failing to meet the stringent requirements could expose them to legal liabilities or even criminal charges.
Councillor Graham Marsh, the deputy leader of East Lindsey District Council, acknowledged that some of the policies may seem excessive but emphasized the need for caution in today’s litigious environment. “I do understand that some of the requirements may feel a bit over the top. But we live in such litigious times now, and the council has to make people aware of the risks involved,” he said. Marsh also expressed his regret at the possibility of these events being cancelled, calling it “tragic” for the local communities.
In an effort to assist organisers, the council announced it would be hiring two new staff members to help groups navigate the complex health and safety requirements. This move aims to ease the burden on event organisers and ensure that smaller, volunteer-led events do not fall by the wayside.
The Wider Impact of Health and Safety Concerns
The problem is not limited to the Horncastle and Woodhall Spa markets. Over the past couple of years, rising health and safety costs and concerns over public safety have led to the cancellation of several other key events in the region. The Lincoln Christmas Market, which typically draws 320,000 visitors over four days, has also been cancelled due to fears around public safety. Other significant events, including the Lincolnshire Steam Rally and the Woodhall Spa 1940s Festival, have either been scaled down or cancelled altogether.
The rising costs associated with hiring private event management companies to meet health and safety requirements are putting significant strain on organisers. Many small groups, who rely on the support of volunteers, simply cannot afford the additional costs, leading them to forgo events altogether. The fear is that as these events disappear, communities will lose an important aspect of their local culture and economy, particularly during the holiday season.
Despite these challenges, some organisers are working hard to continue their festive traditions on a smaller scale. In Woodhall Spa, a group of local businesses has come together to host a more modest Christmas event, though it will not involve road closures or the extensive safety measures that have been required in previous years. This solution may keep the holiday spirit alive, but it also underscores the ongoing tension between maintaining tradition and meeting modern-day safety expectations.
Looking Forward: A Challenging Future for Community Events
As Christmas draws near, the fate of many long-standing events in Lincolnshire hangs in the balance. While health and safety must remain a priority, there is a growing recognition that the demands placed on organisers are making it increasingly difficult to continue hosting these cherished gatherings. With the support of local authorities and a more realistic approach to safety, perhaps community Christmas events in Lincolnshire can be preserved for future generations to enjoy. However, without a shift in policy, the festive spirit that once defined these towns could very well be at risk of disappearing altogether.
