The departure of Nottingham's Winter Wonderland rides and attractions has revealed cracks in some of the concrete slabs in Old Market Square. Although a number of slabs have had to be repaired in the past, some visitors said it was the first time they had noticed the latest damage to the surface in the square.
It comes amid ongoing work to dismantle the remaining stalls at Winter Wonderland, revealing a number of cracks which passers-by said they haven't seen before.
Gaynor Timson, from Carlton, was one of the shoppers who immediately noticed how one of the slabs moved when she walked by. The 56-year-old added: "It is disgusting and it is dangerous.
"There should be a barrier or something covering this. I have not noticed them before so it is definitely new", she added. "I have been here when Nottingham Forest got promoted and I did not notice them."
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She said that she only noticed the cracks after the Christmas Market, which ended on New Year's Eve before packing up. Ms Timson added: "They are ruining the square. I think they should put the market near Broad Marsh. This should be a relaxation area."
Retired Maria Richardson, from West Bridgford, added: "I think we should leave the cracks as they are now because it happens every year after the market. We do not have a proper market anymore anyway - just fairs.
"I miss it when the market was on Huntingdon Street. It would be nice to have a proper market."
The 70-year-old added: "The repairs must cost an arm and a leg. I do not think it is worth to have a market if they have to repair the slabs every time."
However, June Madden said she is not bothered by the cracks. The 86-year-old, from Bramcote, added: "It is always going to happen. I think that saying that this is a trip hazard would stretch it a little bit. The crack is not that deep. I am 86-years-old and I do not have a problem walking around them."
But Ian Workman, aged 72, said: "I have not been in town for a while so I have not seen the cracks. If it is damaged, I think that someone could trip. And they are not cheap to replace either."
A spokesperson for Mellors Group, which sets up Nottingham's Christmas Market in the city centre every year, said: "We work with Nottingham City Council to survey Old Market Square before we start the build for an event. After the event we survey the square again and reinstate any damage found at our cost."
A Nottingham City Council spokesperson added: "The Old Market Square hosts a number of high-profile events every year, which continue to be very popular with residents of Nottingham and visitors from outside the city. Our Highways team deliberately plans-in routine works between these events when things are a little quieter and, as usual, this was scheduled for the weeks following Winter Wonderland this Christmas. It will include paving repairs.
"Inspections are completed before and after major events to establish if there is any damage, which is routine practice. The organisers would be responsible for the costs of any repair and the Winter Wonderland post-inspection is due to take place next week.”
Nottinghamshire Live has previously reported on repairs to slabs in the square. Last April cracks appeared in slabs, and Nottingham City Council said it was fixing these slabs as part of routine maintenance. Signs of wear and tear were also reported in 2019.
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