Cynlluniau parcio newydd ar gyfer y Sioe Amaethyddol Frenhinol
Some changes in the parking arrangements for vehicles travelling to the Royal Welsh Show will come into operation at this year’s event in July.
The relocation of livestock lorries and cars to different areas on and around the showground at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, has been made necessary to avoid any possible recurrence of the chaotic traffic and parking difficulties that resulted from the atrocious weather last year when 40 tractors were employed in towing bogged down vehicles in and out of waterlogged car parks.
The cost of the emergency including hiring extra parking areas and restoring damaged ground amounted to £94,400.
“Planning the new arrangements has been a difficult and onerous task. We have consulted widely with our county advisory committees throughout Wales and examined the pros and cons of numerous suggestions, but there has been no easy solution to the problem,” said David Lewis, Chairman of the Royal Welsh board of management.
“Obviously, we have been forced to compromise and the proposed changes will not suit everyone. Unfortunately, however, they are imperative and crucial to safeguarding the future of the show and are in the interests of all – the members of the society, the exhibitors, the trade stand holders and, of course, the general public who support the Royal Welsh in such large numbers.
“They are also essential on the grounds of safety and the board is particularly mindful of the dangers involved in parking stock lorries on sloping ground when surface conditions are as treacherous as they were in 2007. The logistical problems of parking up to 20,000 cars a day and hundreds of livestock vehicles and caravans are enormous and if conditions like those experienced last year prevail again we must be prepared to manage them effectively otherwise the survival of the show could be jeopardised.”
Because of these numerous factors stock lorries and trailers will, under the new arrangements, move from their existing parking areas at North 11 and 12 to North 9, the car park currently allocated to judges and stewards. Parking for judges and stewards will be provided in adjacent North 10 which is presently used for public car parking. There will be no alteration to the existing members’ caravan parking facilities for 2008.