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Bath Christmas Market 2010!

We will be attending the ever popular Bath Christmnas Market again this year and as you can see below, there are some exciting plans...
Plans to extend Christmas Market 2010 go 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.