RHASS grounded by airport uncertainty

Published on Friday 26 September 2008 19:48

THE Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, which was founded in 1784 and whose principal activity is the staging each June of the Royal Highland Show, is becoming increasingly frustrated at the attitude of BAA and proposals to acquire much of the Ingliston site to expand Edinburgh airport.

Ray Jones, the chief executive of the RHASS, said: "We have suffered a planning blight since December 2003 when the aviation white paper was first published. But to be told two years into a BAA masterplan that the company has changed its mind and that there will be further delays does not seem fair or reasonable.

"BAA still says it wants our land in the future, but they want to cherry-pick what and when they buy over a longer period of time. This leaves the society and Scotland's national show ground with no no ability to plan properly and puts in jeopardy the opportunity to relocate to an appropriate site at Norton Park, which would still enjoy the benefits of being in the capital and close to the airport."

The RHASS, which purchased Ingliston in 1958 for what now seems like a bargain price of 55,000, has invested heavily in the facilities and now boasts two major exhibition halls, which are used throughout the year for a wide range of events, including pop concerts. The Highland Show itself generates more than 100 million over four days.

However, since BAA declared its intentions investment has been confined to little more than maintaining the facilities . Jones and his board of directors feel they have been very badly treated by BAA and the UK government. He said: "We do not believe it is fair that any company should have this level of power over another commercial entity such as ourselves."

The issue is further complicated by the fact the competition authorities are likely to demand BAA sells one of the three airports it owns in Scotland – Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen. If Edinburgh were to be sold it is by no means certain a new operator would wish to purchase Ingliston. There is also a view that in the current financial climate air traffic may not expand at projected rates.

Jones concluded: "We have always supported the growth of Edinburgh Airport and feel that a successful facility can only help the continued success of Scotland's national showground and the UK's largest agricultural show.

"This growth, however, should not be at the expense of our success and the substantial contribution we make to the Scottish economy."

There was no-one available from BAA to comment.