A different organiser has been invited to step in to save the future of a popular festive event which is at risk after the previous organiser stepped down.
The Oxford Mail can reveal that a new applicant has been contacted by the city council to run the Oxford Christmas Market.
The Oxford Christmas Market’s organiser for 14 years, Nicole Rahimi, told this newspaper earlier today that she was “devastated” after she had to withdraw her bid given the county council's refusal to close the cycle lane through Broad Street.
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Ms Rahimi said her “business” was now “finished” and she accused the county council of not being “reasonable” given that a diversion route was put in place for cyclists last year.
She had concerns that a "high speed collision" could take place between cyclists and pedestrians.
City council leader Susan Brown has since told the Oxford Mail that “another interested party has been invited to submit an application to Oxford City Council”.
She said: “We are keen to ensure Oxford continues to have a thriving Christmas market, providing a great opportunity for independent businesses and bringing extra footfall into the city centre during the busy shopping season.”
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Ms Brown has said it was “always made clear” to Ms Rahimi that the cycle lane would remain open alongside the Christmas Market.
She said the county council and city council had “worked hard to find the right balance” and had to deal with “lots of competing demands for space”.
Last year, the county council was willing to put in place a diversion route which encouraged cyclists to pass through Cornmarket Street and Queen Street.
However, Ms Brown said: "Last year, given the short lead-in time, the county council allowed a suspension of the Broad Street cycle route - an important east-to-west route for cyclists through the city centre - for the Christmas market.
“But at the time they made it clear that this would be the last time this key cycle route would be suspended for the Christmas market.”
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The council leader also hit out at Ms Rahimi for going to the Oxford Mail and complaining about the cycle route.
Ms Brown said: "Ms Rahimi has had more than 12 months to prepare for this change, and she submitted a proposal to the city council that included the cycle route through the market.
"Subsequently, midway through the procurement process, she complained to the local media about the inclusion of the cycle route.”
Ms Brown said the city and county councils had continued to engage with Ms Rahimi as she was “the preferred provider” and she said both councils would work now on exploring alternative options so it can continue to go ahead.
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Ms Brown's full statement said: "Following Ms Rahimi’s decision not to bid to apply to hold the Christmas market, another interested party has been invited to submit an application to Oxford City Council.
"We are keen to ensure Oxford continues to have a thriving Christmas market, providing a great opportunity for independent businesses and bringing extra footfall into the city centre during the busy shopping season.
"It was always made clear throughout the tender process that this year the cycle lane would remain open alongside the Christmas market, and Ms Rahimi has chosen to withdraw her bid to hold the market."
"As local residents will know, Oxford city centre is small and has lots of competing demands for the space.
"Oxfordshire County Council, which is responsible for road access and restrictions, and Oxford City Council, which is responsible for approving public events, work hard to find the right balance between all those demands.
"Last year, given the short lead-in time, the county council allowed a suspension of the Broad Street cycle route - an important east-to-west route for cyclists through the city centre - for the Christmas market.
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"But at the time they made it clear that this would be the last time this key cycle route would be suspended for the Christmas market.
"Nicole Rahimi has had more than 12 months to prepare for this change, and she submitted a proposal to the city council that included the cycle route through the market.
"Subsequently, midway through the procurement process, she complained to the local media about the inclusion of the cycle route.
"Both the city and county councils had continued to engage Ms Rahimi, as she was the preferred provider, and we are keen to get moving with the planning for this year's event as soon as possible.
"However, now she has withdrawn from the procurement process, we will now move forward to explore alternative options for this year's market."
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To sign up to Ed's weekly Politics newsletter, click here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/newsletters/
Ed specialises in writing political stories for the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times.
He joined in the team in February 2023, after completing a History undergraduate degree at the University of York and studying for his NCTJ diploma in London.
Ed’s weekly politics newsletter is released every Saturday morning.
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