The Christmas attraction saw a big increase in visits compared to the previous year
Repair works are now underway in a Cambridge park following a Christmas attraction that proved immensely popular with residents and visitors, according to Cambridge City Council. The attraction, ‘Christmas in Cambridge’ on Parker’s Piece, which was open during the festive period, saw a big increase in visits compared to the previous year.
The operators, Seventa Ltd, have reported that there were approximately 400,000 visits to the attraction as a whole, an increase of around 25% from the previous year, and that around 55,000 people enjoyed skating on the centrepiece ice rink.
As in previous years, Cambridge City Council is now undertaking work to restore areas of grass affected by the attraction’s visit, with the cost being met by the operator.
Under the terms of the agreement, the attraction was dismantled and removed by January 14, and the aim is to fully restore this part of Parker’s Piece to public use during the spring.
Cabinet Member for Nature, Open Space and City Services, Cllr Martin Smart, said It was “wonderful to see so many people of all ages enjoying the Christmas in Cambridge attraction (…) and to provide large-scale free-to-enter attractions like this is a real privilege for the council”.
Cllr Smart explained how the number of people visiting the attraction will have provided a seasonal boost to other shops, restaurants and visitor attractions in the city centre at one of the most important times of year for the local economy.
The site has already been chain-harrowed to level the surface, and the ground conditions will now be monitored and given sufficient time to dry out before the council undertakes further work involving aeration and reseeding.
