The organiser's of the Trans Lancs Show have taken the difficult decision to cancel the event which was to be held in Manchester’s Heaton Park on Sunday 1 September.
They have issued the following statement.
"A site inspection has revealed that the rally site, which has been subjected to some of the heaviest rain in recent memory, is saturated and unfit to carry the weight of vintage buses and lorries.
Even at this stage, it’s clear that there’s no chance of the ground recovering in time even if the weather improves. We know that the people who enjoy the event will be disappointed, and at the moment we’re contacting all entrants directly to let them know that the Rally won’t be going ahead.
"A site inspection has revealed that the rally site, which has been subjected to some of the heaviest rain in recent memory, is saturated and unfit to carry the weight of vintage buses and lorries.
Even at this stage, it’s clear that there’s no chance of the ground recovering in time even if the weather improves. We know that the people who enjoy the event will be disappointed, and at the moment we’re contacting all entrants directly to let them know that the Rally won’t be going ahead.
The Trans Lancs is one of the biggest events of its kind and the biggest in the north, and it has been a fixture in the rally calendar for over forty years – so it’s a hard decision to cancel it this year.
The rally site condition has been in decline and in the coming weeks we’ll look further at whether we can commit to returning next year. In the meantime we’re sorry to let people down, but we can’t go ahead when the condition of the ground is so poor that the inevitable consequence would be stuck or damaged vehicles.
The rally site condition has been in decline and in the coming weeks we’ll look further at whether we can commit to returning next year. In the meantime we’re sorry to let people down, but we can’t go ahead when the condition of the ground is so poor that the inevitable consequence would be stuck or damaged vehicles.
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| Heaton Park Tramway |
But we can’t just not do anything – read on for our alternative plans…
Firstly, on Sunday 1 September we’ll be operating a heritage bus service linking the Museum of Transport with our friends at Heaton Park Tramway at the park’s Middleton Road entrance.
Firstly, on Sunday 1 September we’ll be operating a heritage bus service linking the Museum of Transport with our friends at Heaton Park Tramway at the park’s Middleton Road entrance.
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| Manchester Museum of Transport |
Secondly, we’ve linked up with our friends Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust (RVPT) (www.rvpt.co.uk) to create a special one-off display for Ribble and North Western buses at the Museum of Transport, celebrating 100 years of Ribble and 90 years of the old X60 Manchester – Blackpool express service.
We’ll create photo-line-ups, there’ll be a ‘Ribble 100’ display from RVPT and we’ll work to make it worth your while to come to Manchester.
We’re very sorry indeed that the Trans Lancs Transport Show has been cancelled. But we just can’t take chances with the vehicles that so kindly come along.
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| Manchester Museum of Transport |
Please pass the news on, and visitwww.motgm.uk for more details of the free bus service plus the Ribble centenary and X60 display at the Museum on 1 September."
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