ALTHOUGH a record attendance gathered for yesterday's Mid-Somerset Show at Cannard's Grave Road, there is still a tinge of anger around the event, specifically over its possible change of location.
For 160 years the event, reputed to be the largest one-day free show in Europe, has been held at the same location, but around the site, more towards the south, opposite Tadley Acres, is now earmarked for potential under Mendip District Council's Local Plan which, among other things, sets out which pieces of land are suitable for housing and any future granting of planning permission might lead to a change of location for the show.
However, the showfield site itself, behind the doctors surgery, remains a greenfield site.
As well as being concerned with the building of houses, some residents are worried that by taking the event further from Shepton, less people will visit the town.
Peter Hillman, chairman of the Shepton Mallets pressure group, called the show an "integral part of the life of Somerset", when speaking to the BBC.
"If it moves farther away from town we are concerned that people will not come and it will not be successful," he said.
Although a change of location is yet to be confirmed, The Mid Somerset Agricultural Society has previously mentioned it would be happy to move the event to an alternative site on land off Ridge Lane and Compton Road.
By Ben O'Brien
