Despite overnight snow which meant the loss of nine stallholders, two bands, a Santa, the funfair, handbell ringers, and many Christmas bikers at Bedale’s festive market and lights switch, on the town council is already making plans for next year.

The Christmas market was held on Sunday, December 3, after hours of snow and plummeting temperatures which made travelling tricky. At this week’s town council meeting, members said despite the weather many people still turned out. The council is planning to give the dozen stallholders who bravely turned out free entrance to next year’s event to thank them for their perseverance.

Clerk Nick Reed said: “What we were able to go ahead with was really good. Many thanks to the stallholders, entertainers, staff and public who turned out at the Christmas market, especially the Bedale Band and Thornton Watlass singers who made the atmosphere so magical leading up to the lights switch-on. The weather cost us nine of our 21 booked stalls, the funfair, nearly all the bikers, the bellringers, and a rock band but a good time was still had by all.”

Organisers also lost Santa, although a replacement Father Christmas was found at short notice in time for the lights switch on.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Bedale Christmas Market and Lights

Bedale Christmas Festival, which was held on Saturday the week before with market stalls and traders in South End and at Bedale Hall and in a marquee in the park, had better weather and a good turnout. Previously the events were held together but there were concerns from traders that the Christmas market in town reduced footfall and it was decided they would be held on different days.

Next year the events will be held over one weekend on Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1.

In other matters, the council agreed to give a £1,000 donation towards the running costs of Bedale youth venue. Councillor Mike Barningham said the venue, which is based at the rear of Bedale Hall, originally reopened after the Covid shutdown in September and since October has been opening every Friday evening.

He said there are 15 to 20 youngsters attending regularly and one of the favourite events is cooking. Cllr Barningham said the centre is also supported by the Community Forum.

He told councillors work to repair the ceiling on the entrance to the historic Bedale Hall is due to start in the New Year with scaffolding being put up so it can be carried out. This would mean the downstairs toilets will be open again.

Town councillors are planning to carry out repair work on the old pumphouse at Wycar Green and the posts surrounding the area, which is due to cost up to £2,800. An application will be made to local North Yorkshire Councillor David Webster in the hope money will be available from his locality budget. Each North Yorkshire councillor has a budget of £10,000 per year to allow them to respond to local needs by recommending the allocation of small amounts of funding to support specific activities.