BUSINESS owners in Llandrindod Wells have quite literally stepped in to save Christmas, after a festive market planned since the summer seemed to disappear without a trace.

Despite being advertised since July or August, the Llandrindod Wells Christmas Market fell apart this week, with stallholders and sponsors struggling to both find out full details or get their money back from organisers.

Scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 30, the Llandrindod Wells Christmas Market will now not be going ahead.

However, generous local businesses are still determined to put an event on and are busy scrambling around organising a similar, if slightly alternate market.

The ‘Christmas-themed Community Get-Together’ is being organised by Lakeside Boathouse, KDM Local and the Metropole Hotel, under the banner of Llandrindod Community Events (LCE).

It will be held on the same date, between 1-6pm, on Temple Gardens and at the Metropole's Powys suite – with stall spaces now being offered free of charge.

“As many of you might have heard, a recent event in the town unfortunately fell apart at the final hurdle,” read a post on the Llandrindod Community Events Facebook page on Wednesday night.

“A group of passionate local residents and businesses have decided to try come up with an alternative event to celebrate community in our fantastic part of Mid Wales.

“It will be celebrated in conjunction with as many local businesses nearby who'd like to join in this day of celebration.”

With disaster seemingly averted, it now promises to be a special day, with another event, the ‘Sparkle for Christmas Parade and Lights Switch On’, organised by Llandrindod Wells Town Council, being held on the same day.

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It all ends with the spa town’s Christmas lights being switched on, with evening entertainment provided by Steve Jones, aka DJ Sound Pulse.

The original Christmas market had suggested there would be space for up to 64 street stalls, with talk of live music, a funfair and street entertainers. There were even promises of a raffle prize featuring a glitzy Valentine’s weekend trip to Paris and a TV celebrity cutting the ribbon.

Stallholders were quoted £25 per pitch, with one even saying they paid £35. A JustGiving account was set up to support the event, seeking £750 in financial support. At least £151 was donated to it.

It was originally planned for the market to be held on Middleton Street, which would have required a road closure – yet Powys County Council said that while it received an initial enquiry over a possible closure of Middleton Street, a temporary events notice was not applied for.

A Christmas market scene.A Christmas market scene. (Image: PA MEDIA) Kev Martin, of newsagents, stationers and gaming shop KDM Local, said: “From my perspective, initially I probably felt the same as most other people in the town when the previous event fell through. Disappointed. 

“Then I started to see how many people had put a lot of effort into their own part of prep. From buying in stock, creating crafts, booking staff, allocating their own time and turning down other bookings.

“Lee (Percy, of Lakeside Boathouse and LCE) reached out to me to see if we could get an event sorted on the same day as the proposed cancelled event.

“So, we got to work and within 24 hours we'd assembled a team of businesses/people who've come together with a mission to create the sort of event that acts as a perfect juxtaposition during sad times.

“We liaised swifty with Powys County Council, the Metropole Hotel and got the fundamentals in place, and the next two weeks will be a whirlwind of effort by already very busy people, but the only reason it can work is just the sheer number of offers to help that'd come forth. 

“By allocating as much work among the community as possible, we should be able to pull off an event befitting of our area.

“Every community has more good and honest people within than bad, and they are the ones who should shine front of house, especially at Christmas.”

For more updates on the community Christmas event, to book a stall or if you’d like to help, get in touch with organisers via the LCE Facebook page.