More car parking, more roads, more drainage - Society Announces Major Showground Investment
Organisers of the Great Yorkshire Show, have announced that the flagship farming and countryside showcase will have more car parking, new temporary roads and increased drainage to enhance the parking provision at what is England’s premier agricultural event.
The number of parking spaces will increase by more than 5,000 - an additional 30%, giving organisers, the Yorkshire Agricultural Society greater flexibility for the tens of thousands of vehicles which flock to the prestigious event. Some 45,000 cars are parked over the three days.
Dates for this year are Tuesday 9 – Thursday 11 July when around 130,000 visitors are expected to attend. Tickets went on sale on 1 March.
The land lies on the south side of the Harrogate-based showground, and adjoins the existing site. It has been acquired from Rudding Park Estate and is in addition to the Society’s existing 270 acres, 170 of which are used for car parking, and around 100 acres for the show itself.
The news comes after the cancellation of the last two days of the 2012 show, following the wettest summer on record, when many of the parking areas became unusable. The cancellation cost the Society around £2m.
Making the announcement, Nigel Pulling, the Society’s Chief Executive said: “This is one of the most significant developments in our long history. Having to cancel the last two days of the 2012 show was heartbreaking. As a direct result, an additional £500,000 has been earmarked on top of our annual Show budget of £3m to improve and increase the parking available.
Mr Pulling stressed: “It’s not that we are expecting more cars, on the contrary, we are keen to encourage people to use public transport, but this gives us greater flexibility should it prove necessary.”
“We have an extensive programme of groundworks underway, which will see a new network of temporary roads – a total of around 5 kilometers (or 3.4 miles) and a similar amount of drainage. Many of our fields have been used for parking for a number of years which has compacted the ground and two Yorkshire companies, Sumo UK Ltd and Ripon Farm Services, are currently helping us by sub soiling the car parks to improve the drainage.
“To help improve access, we’re using about 13,000 tonnes of stone for the roads and also at gateways of many of the car park entrances, which should also make a real difference,” he added.
Following last year’s cancellation, the Society commissioned a topographical survey of the show site. As a result, drainage within the showground itself has also been improved and increased within the showground. The White Rose Ring – used for many of the equine classes – is a key area which has been improved at a cost of around £15,000.
Fast facts:
- Total length of new temporary road installed: 5,482m
- Total Square meters of new temporary roads installed: 27,410m2
- Total amount of stone used 12,854 tonnes
- Total length of new drainage installed 5,571m
- Total amount of stone used for the drainage 2,500 tonnes
ENDS
8 May 2013
Judy Thompson, PR Manager, Yorkshire Agricultural Society – 01423 546215 or judyt@yas.co.uk
Editors’ Notes
Apply online for press passes for the Great Yorkshire Show 2013 - http://greatyorkshireshow.co.uk/media/press-passes
INFORMATION
Tickets are available either on line - www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk or call 01423 541222 or in person from the Show’s office at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate.
Tickets bought in advance Tickets bought on the gate
Adult: £21 Adult £24
Concession: £20 Concession: £23
Children: £9 Children: £11
Family: £54 Family: £62
Parking is free and extensive. Free buses will run from Harrogate Railway Station.
Please be aware, dogs, other than assistance dogs, are not allowed on the showground.
YORKSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY:
The Yorkshire Agricultural Society was formed in 1837 and is a charity dedicated to supporting the farming industry and rural life. This ranges from educational initiatives to the Society’s Nuffield Scholarships to hosting the Yorkshire Rural Support Network. The Society is based at the Regional Agricultural Centre, Harrogate; the RAC includes Fodder, the Society’s award winning regional food shop and café which opened in June 2009.
The Society is the organiser of the annual farming and country showcase, the Great Yorkshire Show and its sister event, Countryside Live. Both take place at the Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire and are flagship events for agriculture and rural life. Dates for the 2013 Great Yorkshire Show are Tuesday 9 – Thursday 11 July, and Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October are the dates for Countryside Live. Tickets go on sale for the Great Yorkshire Show on Thursday 1 March. See also www.yas.co.uk and www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk
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