A couple cut their visit to Liverpool Christmas markets short after being "disappointed" by a number of issues they faced.
A woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, visited the markets on St George's plateau on Monday, November 21 with her husband, who is a wheelchair user. But the woman claims their festive trip lasted "20 minutes" after her husband was unable to access parts of the markets.
The woman said that they had visited the markets while a decked surface was installed, making it easier to attend. But the couple were left "disappointed" after finding that the surfaces were not in place.
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The woman said: "We usually go to quite a few Christmas markets, experience the mulled wine and just sit and chill out. But we couldn't do it. Every single bar, apart from the large tepee, has got some form of step making it inaccessible.
"Even some of the vendors have got steps up, so you can't get to them.
"We stayed 20 minutes, if that. I darted round, took a few pictures and we literally just went after that. We walked back down on the left where the tepee is, walked through that and couldn't get down there either because it's got steps."
The woman said she has "commented several times" on Liverpool City Council's social media posts asking them to move the market, but she "never got a comment back". The couple also posted a TikTok in hopes of a response, which has led to upsetting comments from TikTok users.
The woman added: "Some of them have said 'get up and walk' and 'push him.' Pushing him is not the answer because when its on cobbles, and you're behind someone in a wheelchair you can't see what is in front of you. If the front two wheels hit the cobbles, the person could fall out.
"It's about independence. Even someone with limited mobility could trip over while walking or families with push chairs."
A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: "Liverpool City Council and the organisers of the Liverpool Christmas Market are committed to ensuring that, so far as reasonably practicable, access to the Christmas Market is accessible to everyone wishing to attend.
"The Plateau area is cobbled and we are aware this can be challenging to some. We have worked extensively with accessibility advisors over the last few years to explore appropriate options to cover the cobbles and make the area level, without compromising their Grade 1 listed status.
"The operator is continuing to make the Christmas Market on the Plateau as accessible as possible, putting in dropped kerbs and ramps where necessary, and expanding the market to incorporate William Brown Street and St Johns Gardens which are not cobbled.
"There is an accessible toilet facility for wheelchair users and ambulant disabled persons and an autism friendly experience is currently being explored, whereby the lighting and volume will be adjusted for a more relaxing atmosphere on a specific day and time."
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