Traffic plan debate for Royal Lancashire Show

10:41am Sunday 18th May 2008

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Traffic arrangements for this year's Royal Lancashire Show will be up for discussion at a special meeting of the rural area forum on Tuesday May, 20.

The meeting, which takes place at 7pm at Barton Village Hall, will give local residents the opportunity to find out more about the traffic and transport arrangements for the annual event, including measures such as temporary traffic lights, suggested routes, car parking and other arrangements.

People will also be able to view copies of the agreed traffic management plan for the event.

Dating back to 1767, the Royal Lancashire Show is said to be the oldest agricultural show in the country.

Organised by the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society (RLAS), it has been held at various venues over the years, but will be held at the Duke of Lancaster Park, Barton, this year, between 18 and 20 July.

The three-day event is set to attract thousands of visitors and Wyre Borough Council, the planning authority covering the Myerscough area, set out that a traffic management plan should be produced as one of the conditions of the planning permission for the event.

Officers from Lancashire County Council have worked with Lancashire Constabulary to draw up the plan and both will be attending the forum to answer any traffic related questions.

However, Wyre Borough Council has declined the offer of attending the meeting.

Although Preston City Council has not been involved in the planning process, it has been consulted as a neighbouring authority and is holding the forum to ensure local residents are aware of the arrangements.

People who are unable to attend the meeting will also have the chance to view the traffic management plan onboard Citizenzone, the council's mobile information centre, which will be located at Barton Village Hall between 1pm and 6.30pm on Tuesday 20 June.

Councillor Ken Hudson, chair of the Rural Area Forum, said: "The Royal Lancashire Show will attract literally tens of thousands of people to the area and as such, the RLAS has had to commission the county council and police to produce a traffic management plan to minimise disruption for local residents.

"Many people have expressed concerns about traffic provision for the event at previous area forums and next week's meeting is a chance for them to view the plan and put forward their questions to Lancashire County Council and the police."