Great Dorset Steam Fair Improvements

The Great Dorset Steam Fair has spent the winter planning improvements to the layout and infrastructure at the Tarrant Hinton Showground.

Following wet weather problems during the 2014 event, it was agreed at de-brief meetings that hard roads into and on the showground would significantly improve traffic management, site operations, logistics and, most importantly, public safety and welfare. The measure will also enhance visitor experience.

The construction of a new permanent internal road system is a three-year project (subject to planning permission) involving the laying of over 5000 metres of new hard roads. Planning permission has already been granted for a sizeable amount of the new road system and over 3,000 metres will be installed and ready for the 2015 show.

There have also been major improvements to the layout of the site. Campers will be on one side and day visitor car parks on the other, which will greatly improve access and ease congestion. Visitors also now have the ability to camp for just one night instead of the usual minimum of two nights.

Campers will be pleased to hear that a new shuttle bus will be operating up and down the campsites throughout each day to drop campers at pedestrian entrances into the showground and bring them back again. Due to all the changes, management at the Great Dorset Steam Fair are urging all visitors to double-check their gate numbers to avoid delays accessing the site.

Martin Oliver, Managing Director at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, said, “We owe great thanks to our land owners for supporting these developments. A lot was learned from last year’s adverse conditions and we strongly believe that these measures will greatly improve access times on arrival, ease traffic congestion both on and off site and significantly enhance exhibitor, camper and visitor experiences, whatever the weather.”

For more information, please visit www.gdsf.co.uk.