Plans to extend Christmas Market 2010

Plan to extend Bath Christmas Market goes ahead

 

Bath Tourism Plus is intending to submit a planning application to extend the Christmas Market in 2010 to run for 18 days, following a large amount of support from local businesses and retailers.

 

Before the application is submitted Bath Tourism Plus will be consulting with local residents, retailers and businesses.  Robin Bischert, chief executive of Bath Tourism Plus explains, “Although there is a huge economic benefit to the city and surrounding area, the event does cause congestion impacting on local residents and businesses, so we are carrying out a period of consultation before the planning application is submitted.  We are looking to liaise with local residents and businesses to improve the Christmas Market and to reduce any potential impact of extending the Market”.

 

Local businesses and retailers have already shown their support and Bath Podium Shopping Centre manager John Grinnell is backing the campaign to extend the city’s Christmas market.  Mr Grinnell said, “City centre traders notice a marked drop in the number of visitors once the market goes in the two weeks before Christmas and we always get a lot of enquires from people wanting to know how to get there and how long the market is here for.  It’s popular among tourists as well as local shoppers and I really think it’s a good idea to extend it until much nearer Christmas, even if we do it as a trial.  Not everyone does their shopping early and I’m sure it would be popular among stallholders as well as the public to add some extra days”.

 

Jollys, another major retailer in the city, believe that it’s a great opportunity and an asset to the city, and also notice an increase in sales during the event.

 

Bath Tourism Plus is inviting residents and businesses of Bath to let them know their views on extending the Christmas Market.  Any feedback should be sent to Charlotte Buckley - christmas_market@bathtourism.co.uk - who is working on the planning proposal for 2010.

 

The proposed dates for the 2010 Bath Christmas Market will be from the 25th November to the 12th December.  In order to ease congestion on the site and spread visitor numbers, Bath Tourism Plus is proposing to extend the site by locating an additional 8 stalls in Abbey Churchyard and 8 stalls around the north east corner of the Abbey.  If permitted, it is intended that 2 chalets will be removed from the main square.  

 

Plans for the 2009 Christmas Market, which will take place from the 26^th November to the 6^th December, are now well underway and all commercial stalls have been filled.  Bath Tourism Plus is still looking to find local charities that would like to have a free stall and is urging any interested charities to contact Charlotte Buckley. 

 

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Notes to Editors:  

For further information please contact Lucy Weaver at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 477441 or email: lucy_weaver@bathtourism.co.uk

 

Bath Christmas Market

Bath Tourism Plus is the company responsible for the marketing and operation of Bath Christmas Market, which attracts approximately 225,000 visitors per year to Bath.  For more information about Bath Christmas Market, visit: www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.

 

Bath Tourism Plus

Working with the public and private sectors, Bath’s destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy tourist information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation’s top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath’s official destination website www.visitbath.co.uk.  For more information about the services that Bath Tourism Plus offers to meetings, conference and incentive travel businesses, see www.bathconference.co.uk

 

Travel to Bath

Bath is easy to access from all over the UK and the world.  High speed, direct train services operated by First Great Western link Bath Spa train station to London and its major airports.  Bath Spa train station is well situated, just 5 minutes level walk into the city centre’s main shopping and tourist areas.  See: www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk.  Bristol International Airport is just 15 miles from Bath and operates direct flights from New York and Orlando in the USA, as well as most major European and UK airports.  An express bus service to Bristol Temple Meads train station operates throughout the day, and Bath is just a 20 minute train journey from there. See: www.bristolairport.co.uk.  Bath is also easy to access by car, from junction 18 of the M4 motorway which links Bath to Bristol, London and South Wales.  There are three Park & Ride services on the outskirts of the city which operate fast, frequent services into the city centre, offering a hassle free, cost effective way of reaching the city centre.