WESES Cornish Steam Fair

[ttp2011]

The number of engines attending has declined quite sharply and the admission prices have increased and for a disabled person like myself there is a lot of walking trying to locate the various engines. On top of that, parking is too rigidly controlled, last year I had to park nearly two hundred yards away from the entrance in a blue badge parking area as the marshall wanted to fill the line of cars before opening the next line. The next line would have allowed me to park about ten to fifteen yards away from the paygates. This year at Torbay, I used the blue badge parking and was able to park 20 feet away from the paygate. Out of the various rallies which I have attended in recent years, Stithians provides the worst parking facilities for blue badge holders and, on top of that, depending upon the traffic, it is a hour and a half to two hour drive from Ivybridge as Stithians is tucked away from the main A30. In future years, I will only attend if there is something special which I want to see and photograph. Next year, I too will probably go to Boconnoc.

[Bosiboz]

I seem to recall this year at least that there was a disabled parking area adjacent to the entrance pay gate

[8_10 Brass Cleaner]

Tom and Robin

The impression I got, and I may well be wrong was that while the St Agnes site had much going for it as you both note, it turned to sh1t at the slightest bit of rain.

It seems as an outsider that one of the factors influencing the move was that after a couple of wet ones the move to Stithians was to a site better suited to poor weather.

And to be fair the reports on here seem to suggest that last statement is at least true, horizontal rain on saturday, no problems on sunday.

[tvoburn]

In defence of the parking and the parking attendants at the site last year a relation of mine went to the event with their disabled son who is confined to a wheel chair. The driver did not display a blue badge but after explaining the situation to the attendant he could not have been more helpful and after a little wait found them a spot to park in spitting distance of the main gate.
I, like a lot of people, have an opinion on the site and have talked about and discussed these with various members of the committee. That said despite the rain I have just had a thoroghly enjoyable weekend at Stithians.
I am sure it takes a huge amount of work to put this event on and credit has to be given to those that give up their time to organise it all, a look at the LSVC website will show what can go wrong when this help is lost.

[Tim Mayhew]

The rain on Saturday was dreadful but having seen the forecast most of the locals either came Friday or Monday. The beer and Saturday night entertainment were excellent as was the company.
The site drained very well and the layout gave most exhibitors a downhill run to a hard road, I was not aware of anyone needing a tow out. Yes it was congested on Sunday; but at least there was movement. The members and the committee did a great job and worked hard. I am sure they will learn from this year and make a few tweaks next year.

We had a great time and were made very welcome by everyone.

Tim