Winter Wonderland cancelled over safety fears
A CHRISTMAS attraction in Bristol city centre has been cancelled amid “public health concerns”.
The Vintage Winter Wonderland in Millennium Square featured fairground rides including dodgems and a helter skelter and food stalls.
It launched on December 3 and was set to run until early January, but We The Curious, which owns the land in Millennium Square, has announced it will not open again.
Along with event operators James Rogers Events Attractions Ltd, the science centre has taken the decision to close the site with immediate effect.
A spokesperson for We The Curious said James Rogers Event Attractions “worked closely with Bristol City Council” over the weekend to manage capacity and ensure the site was Covid-secure.
This came after leaders in Bristol’s hospitality industry expressed outrage that the fair was allowed to go ahead despite the city being in Tier 3.
New measures included barriers at entries, a limit on capacity, more signs and one-way systems.
There were also staff to ensure social distancing measures were kept to, but concerns were still raised about people gathering in the harbourside area and queuing to enter the attraction.
Donna Speed, chief executive for We The Curious, said: “As a space where people come together, it’s vital that any activity on our spaces meets the Government safety guidelines for current restrictions, but also that it feels safe to people.
“Due to the number of people in the wider Harbourside area, and the projected increase in visitors over the Christmas period, it will likely create pinch points and bottle-necks around the Millennium Square site.
“We need to play our part in public safety, especially given the current restrictions; and by learning from other attractions in other cities, it’s the right thing to do at this moment, to remove the Vintage Winter Wonderland attraction.”
James Rogers Event Attractions
Ltd has been approached for comment.
Tweeting about the decision, mayor Marvin Rees said: “I welcome @wethecurious_’s decision not to reopen their Vintage Winter Wonderland event and appreciate them taking a swift decision after public health concerns were raised.
“#Bristol needs to keep working together to keep one another safe.”