ORGANISERS of this year's Royal Lancashire Show have been told to address residents concerns at a public meeting before the event is given the go-ahead.

Ribble Valley Council has confirmed it is satisfied its concerns about health and safety at the showground near Ribchester have been tackled by show organisers.

But council bosses are holding back from giving the show, on July 27 to 29, the official go-ahead until a meeting has been organised to explain how traffic problems which arose last year will be solved.

Last July's show caused traffic chaos around the A59 and in villages, such as Ribchester, which are close to the event's Salesbury Hall Farm site.

Weather which blighted last year's show -- and caused it to be abandoned -- led to a series of health and safety concerns and prompted the council to vow to block planning permission, drinks licensing and road closures orders unless action was taken.

They included safety for pedestrians, safe provision of electricity to tents and concerns about the number of toilets on site.

Ribble Valley Borough Council's director of commercial services, John Heap, said: "Good progress is being made and we are generally pleased with the way our partners are working together.

"Many of our safety concerns from last year have been addressed and that was always our top priority.

"An issue still outstanding is the number of residents who have requested a public meeting with the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society to discuss arrangements for traffic and other aspects of the show.

"The council is working with the society to support its efforts to stage the show again, but at the same time we are supportive of residents and have urged the society to arrange a public meeting as soon as possible.

"Our focus is entirely on health and safety and we are satisfied that the Royal Lancashire Show Society is taking these concerns seriously, so everything is gearing up for the show to go ahead."

Rennie Pinder, the show's chairman, said traffic issues had also been addressed. Free parking should prevent queues forming for people to pay to get on to the site, while new areas will be created on the site for horseboxes, making it easier for them to get on and off the site.

A show spokesman said: "Mr Pinder is speaking to the parish council chairmen in the area about the plans, which have been drawn up by specialist consultants.

"Then a public meeting will be held and any issues addressed."