Community Christmas Events Jeopardized by “Overwhelming” Bureaucracy, Organizers Claim

Claims suggest that community Christmas events face the threat of cancellation due to “overwhelming” health and safety documentation requirements. Event organizers in Lincolnshire have informed the BBC that mandates addressing potential dangers such as terrorism, bombs, and drones are increasingly perceived as “too onerous.” Brian Burbidge, who has organized the Horncastle Christmas Market for the last 12 years, stated that the local council anticipated him to “cover absolutely all eventualities.” East Lindsey District Council announced its intention to hire two additional staff members to assist groups in managing these requirements. The yearly Christmas fair in Woodhall Spa, which has taken place for 25 years and drawn approximately 4,000 attendees, has been called off this year. Organizers attribute this cancellation to what they describe as “an insurmountable barrier” of health and safety regulations. The Woodhall Spa Rotary Club, responsible for staging the event, issued a statement indicating that it was instructed to close two roads “to prevent drive-through terrorism” and to engage a traffic management firm. The statement further noted, “We would have to draft and issue written guidance to marshals and stewards on procedures in the event of a terrorist attack.” Certain businesses within the village have collaborated to organize a significantly smaller event, which does not involve road closures. In Horncastle, the adjacent town, the yearly Christmas market will proceed. However, organizer Mr. Burbidge expressed that the documentation has grown “onerous,” and he feels “fearful” regarding its future. He stated, “It includes things like bomb threats, counter-terrorism, traffic management and even what to do if someone flies a drone overhead.” “We’re just a group of volunteers putting on a community event, but it will disappear if this continues,” he added. He also mentioned, “I know others who are cancelling because they don’t want the risk or the cost of using a private events management company.” In the last two years, various events across Lincolnshire, such as Lincoln Christmas Market, the Woodhall Spa 1940s Festival, and the Lincolnshire Steam Rally, have been impacted by increasing expenses and public safety worries. Joanne Holderness, proprietor of Grace’s Boutique in Horncastle, commented that the loss of the Christmas market would be a significant setback. She remarked, “It’s the best day of the year and the town does really well from it.” “I would be devastated if it finished, because it’s a small town with a lot of independent shops and the market is just what we need,” she further stated. Other event organizers, speaking to the BBC, reported feeling “intimidated” during their appearances before an East Lindsey health and safety panel, which comprises representatives from entities such as the police and the council. These meetings are intended to assist groups in ensuring events are as safe as possible and to shield them from potential litigation or even imprisonment should issues arise. However, one organizer characterized his encounter with the panel as “brutal.” Both the Woodhall Spa and Horncastle organizations obtained guidance from the East Lindsey Events Safety Advisory Group, an entity that functions on behalf of the district council. Councillor Graham Marsh, the council’s deputy leader, acknowledged his understanding that certain policies were “a little bit over the top” and that event cancellations would be “tragic.” Nevertheless, he asserted that the authority “has to open people’s eyes to litigation because we live in such litigious times now.” The council confirmed that the two new staff members would provide assistance to groups with the required documentation.