Overcrowding concerns prompt changes to York Christmas market
Complaints were made about huge crowds last Christmas
Last updated 25th Jan 2023
Changes are set to be made to York's Christmas market after complaints of overcrowding last year.
Councillors echoed concerns raised by members of th epublic about the number of people packed into Parliament Street for the event, which ran until December 23.
Safety leaders say the number of people attending had been higher than expected, in part because visitors chose to stay in the UK, rathern than travelling to European markets.
City of York Council's head of community safety, Jane Mowat, said: “I have absolutely no doubt that the level of crowds within the Christmas markets this year will be picked up by the safety advisory group.
“And I would anticipate that that will probably result in some redesigning around the actual market itself, the spaces between the cabins, the exit and entry points and some of those issues.”
Last year, the number of rows of stalls in Parliament Street was reduced from three to two, and a trail of Nutcracker statues was created across the city centre to encourage people to explore quieter parts as well as the market.
Responding to concerns in December, Make it York managing director Sarah Loftus said a crowd safety officer was on site at all times, with stewards were also on-hand to manage visitor flow.