Traditional Christmas market ruined after cycle lane splits stalls in two
The cycle lane ran straight through the middle of the Oxford Christmas Market
OXFORD CHRISTMAS MARKET
A Christmas market's "atmosphere" was ruined by a cycle lane running directly through the middle.
Oxford's festive market was split in two because of the city council's refusal to temporarily close the bike path in the build up to the festive season.
Stall traders and visitors to the display on Broad Street are said to have been frustrated by the poor atmosphere and the low turn out, which had been partially blamed on the cycle lane.
Dermot Mcgillicuddy of LSD Promotions, which organised the market said the city "deserved a better Christmas market" than it had received this year.
The cycle lane ran straight through the middle of the Oxford Christmas MarketOXFORD CHRISTMAS MARKET"If you didn’t have the cycle lane there, it would be an improvement," he said reflecting on the final day of the event.
"Previously it was one site, and you could create everything in that, but it’s now two separate sites.
"It’s just not conducive to creating the best atmosphere."
The Christmas market almost failed to go ahead this year over concerns about the problems the cycle lane would cause.
The Christmas market almost failed to go ahead this year over concerns about the problems the cycle lane would cause
OXFORD CHRISTMAS MARKET
The founder of the festive market, which has been running for 14 years, pulled out of organising the even in July over safety concerns.
LSD Promotions took over in order to keep the event going.
However, a series of changes had to be made by the company to the original layout and organisation of the market in order to accommodate the cycle lane.
Mcgillicuddy said that next year the market should move elsewhere in the city in order to reinvigorate it.
“It’s very restrictive with the current layout to provide entertainment, which is part and parcel of a Christmas market,” he added while talking to the Oxford Mail.
A county council spokesman said: "The conditions regarding the cycle lane were in place when the Christmas Market application process started.
"The east-west cycle path through Broad Street is a key route and is important to maintain. Thousands of cyclists use it every day.
"We looked at things we could do to improve safety, such as reducing the width of the entrance to the cycle path to reduce bike speeds.
"Similar events have taken place in Broad Street with the cycle route in place, and these have not led to any reports of collisions.
"We are not aware of any reports of collisions at the site during this year’s event."