Royal Highland showgoers prepare to paint the town… black

By BRIAN FERGUSON
Published on 21/06/2012 00:45

ORGANISERS of the Royal Highland Show have pledged that work on a long-delayed expansion will finally get under way before the end of year, as this year’s event begins.

Construction of a new gateway for the country’s flagship agricultural event, worth £70 million to the economy, will see a new tree-lined boulevard created off Eastfield Road, near Edinburgh. Work on a new Holiday Inn Express hotel is also expected to start within months, subject to planning permission being secured.

Meanwhile it is hoped the event – which starts today and runs until Sunday – will be able to attract upwards of 180,000 people for the third year in a row, with advance booking sales at a record level worth around £300,000.

The four-day event is also expected to see its strongest trade presence from overseas, with delegates visiting from the likes of Brazil, Nigeria, Latvia, Norway, Canada and Turkey. Chefs Nick Nairn, Roy Brett and Lady Claire MacDonald will be hosting cookery sessions.

Work on a 20-year revamp of the site has been delayed due to protracted wrangling with the owners of nearby Edinburgh Airport over how much land the showground should be allowed to use. However Stephen Hutt, chief executive of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, said: “We have the planning permission in place for the new gateway to the site, off Eastfield Road, and we are hopeful the planning will come through for the hotel pretty soon.

“We had a few issues with the council to resolve, which were holding things up, but we are almost at the point of getting things under way.”