Exhibition Centre plan for Ryedale venue (From Gazette & Herald)

Exhibition Centre plan for Ryedale venue

A RYEDALE entrepreneur's plans to build an exhibition centre to rival Yorkshire's largest are set to go before district council planners in the next few weeks.

The plans, which have the provisional backing of the Yorkshire Tourist Board, could generate up to £1 million in extra trade for the district.

Simon Boak, who runs the events-based business The Events Office, wants to build the centre on the Malton Road Showground, in Pickering, which he owns.

He is hoping the plans will go before councillors by June.

"Letters have been sent out to various groups and no one has raised any major objections," he said.

"The town council has given its support and hopefully we'll be able to get things moving soon and before Ryedale District Council."

The field is already used for agricultural and car shows, but Mr Boak believes his plans could see the tourist season in Pickering extend into the slow winter months.

"I have been organising rallies and exhibitions in Pickering and across the country for more than 25 years," he said.

"It has become increasingly difficult to find venues for these - venues like the Great Yorkshire Showground in Harrogate are often booked up.

"The Showground is an ideal location for an exhibition centre, it would give a great boost to the local economy.

"It is already used for commercial purposes so it would not be a new development."

A study carried out by his company estimates that more than £1 million in additional revenue could be generated for traders.

"Hotel and restaurant owners and traders in the town would benefit from the extra income," said Mr Boak.

"The hope is that because the facility is indoors we will be able to attract visitors to events during winter when things slow down."

The building would be 4,000 square metres, a similar size to an older centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

But John Farquhar, spokesman for the Ryedale branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England, said his group would be objecting to the plans.

"We are concerned that this is a development which will take place on open space," he said.

"There are other buildings along that road so we don't have any strong objections, but we are objecting on principle.

"We are also concerned that traffic volumes will be significantly increased by this development."

Updated: 09:11 Tuesday, April 30, 2002