ONE of the UK's biggest caravan shows is to be wheeled out of York after 13 years in the city.

Organisers of the Northern Motorcaravan Show have revealed that the event - which last year attracted 13,000 visitors - will be switched to the Pickering Showground this autumn.

Legendary crooner Des O'Connor has been lined up to perform at the latest annual gathering of caravan and motor home fans as it ends its association with the city's Knavesmire, its home since 1995.

The show's bosses say the change of venue has been forced because a multi-million pound drainage improvement scheme at York Racecourse would make it too difficult to return there.

Around 4,000 caravans and motor homes are expected to converge on Pickering instead for the rally between September 19 and 22 in a huge boost to the town's economy - while tourism bosses in York face seeing a huge chunk of visitor cash vanish up the A64.

The show has been blamed in the past for causing traffic gridlock in the west of York, while people whose homes overlook Knavesmire have accused visitors of creating parking chaos by clogging up streets with their vehicles.

"We have decided to move because a lot of work will be taking place at the racecourse, which would make it impossible to do the things we want to do," said exhibition manager Maxine Shepherd, of organisers Warners Group Publications.

"That led to us seeking an alternative, which we have been doing for the last six months, and we are picking everything up and moving to Pickering. The show will be as big as it has always been and there is the added benefit of being able to allow campers to stay for an extra day.

"We're very pleased to have found a venue so close to York, and as it is a proper showground it will give us more on-site facilities for our biggest event of the year. We will be looking to arrange buses to take visitors around local attractions, including York."

Pickering Showground owner Simon Boak said: "It's an important booking for us and should give the local economy a big boost, especially as it comes after the main tourist season.

"We are very pleased - this is one of our biggest events of the year - and we hope it's successful and can be repeated. It's good news for us and for the area."

The organisers confirmed Des O'Connor has been booked to entertain campers on Saturday, September 20, although the event will not be open to the general public.

York Racecourse chief executive William Derby said: "The show's relationship is between the organisers and City of York Council - we are really a third party in it.

"We have a big track investment programme to enhance our racing surface, which has begun and will continue through the autumn, so we advised the show's organisers of what it would entail and what the implications would be for the site. It was then up to them to respond to that."


Contrasting views to the fore in a tale of two show venues

THE tills of Pickering are expected to be ringing non-stop when the Northern Motorcaravan Show arrives in town for the first time in September.

But while businesses there hope for a bumper autumn payday, tourism chiefs in York are left hoping the excursions planned at the event will draw in visitors and compensate them from the drop in income the rally's departure is expected to cause.

"I'm sure the show will do the town good - events such as this bring in business and help put Pickering on the map," said Pickering councillor Arthur Aslett.

"The Showground is a very successful venue, and events which have been staged there in the past have always been well-attended, so that is an added advantage to everybody in the area. They should be commended for bringing this event to Pickering and I hope they get the success they deserve."

Visit York marketing manager Kay Hyde said: "It's disappointing news that the show is leaving York this year - this is a hugely popular event.

"However, there is still an opportunity for the city to capitalise on this as many visitors to Pickering will come into York as part of their stay and we're delighted the organisers will be putting on shuttle buses to the city.

"We fully wish the event and our tourism colleagues in Pickering every success."


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