A show stopper

PART of Britain's unique charm is the myriad of bylaws, oftenidiosyncratic, that add so much to the character of the country. Yet they are pointless if no one knows about their existence, as witnessed in West Yorkshire where the Bingley Show has been operating unlawfully on a Sunday for a decade.

By The Newsroom

Published 11th Aug 2010, 23:39 BST

Updated 11th Aug 2010, 23:53 BST

The reason is nothing to do with Sunday trading, a major issue two decades ago. It dates back to the late 19th century when a bylaw was introduced that prohibits event organisers charging an entrance fee on a Sunday, a loophole that the powers-that-be at Bradford Council have

just brought to the attention of Airedale Agricultural Society.

It could be argued that it is the town hall which is at fault for not implementing such laws; they were evidently only alerted to the discrepancy by a member of the public. Equally, is it right that the date of such a popular show should be determined by an archaic rule that was introduced more than a century ago?

Either way, it is imperative that an agreement is reached that does not jeopardise the future for Bingley Show, a celebration of farming and the countryside which goes from strength to strength.

That is far more important than whether this premier event takes place on a Saturday or a Sunday.