Christmas event cancelled due to safety fears

A town's Christmas lights switch-on event has been cancelled due to safety fears over construction work taking place at the same time.

Goole Town Deal Board said it felt it "would not be safe" for the town council to host the event due to "so much construction work being carried out in and around the Market Hall".

The work is part of a £3.1m project to refresh the town centre's appearance, as well as a £4m investment underway to revamp the market hall.

The board said Christmas lights and a traditional tree on the Clock Tower roundabout would still go up as usual.

Phil Jones, chair of the Goole Town Deal Board said although he understood people would be disappointed "our priority has to be on keeping people safe and ensuring that delivery of these two key projects can progress as planned".

The town centre work was due to start in early summer but was delayed after feedback was shared by business owners located along the Boothferry Road precinct.

Improvements to the area around Goole Market Hall have been scheduled for when scaffolding around the building is taken down, which will not be ready to open until early 2026, the board said.

New hard and soft landscaping will be installed as well as seating to promote walking and cycling in the East Yorkshire town.

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