VILLAGE councillors clashed over plans to stage the Royal Lancs Show at Myerscough.
Differences of opinion became clear at Myerscough and Bilsborrow Parish Council, with chairman Coun Bill Collinson saying local people who were against the RLS plans were in a minority.
Coun Collinson agreed there were concerns about traffic, but sa
id: "There are an awful lot in favour of this proposal and what it will bring to the area."
He said there had been opposition to various developments in the area over the years including at Hampson Green, Garstang Golf Club, Guys/Owd Nells, but which were now accepted.
He also said there would be no new motorway junction at Claughton because of geological concerns and because the idea did not meet government criteria.
Coun Collinson also said there would be no effect on Garstang or Great Eccleston shows adding: "They are not worried about it."
The main critic was Coun William Robinson who said traffic had been "all bunged up" on the A59 the last time the show was held near Ribchester.
He described contingency plans to route show-bound traffic miles around the M55 and Fylde villages as "a palava."
He said there were already problems on the roads stretching as far as Withy Trees, Preston and warned: "To put another 12,000 cars on a road that is already clogged up will not work."
Coun Collinson said: "We have not experienced it."
Coun Robinson responded: "We do not want it. Anybody with any commonsense can see it can't work. I am 110% against it.''
Coun Robinson also said the Duchy had already benefitted from its quarrying work at Myerscough saying: "They have had one bite of the cherry."
Coun Collinson replied: "They want another bite of the cherry."
Coun Robinson responded: "At the expense of us!"
Coun Roger Pye said approval was "a forgone conclusion."
He added: "There is a very strong feeling that the infrastructure will be under tremendous pressure at the times coming and going from the showground."
Coun Pete Murphy, a member of Wyre Council, said he would be pressing Wyre Council for a condition in any planning consent that the situation be reviewed after the first show.
Barton Parish Council, which lies within the Preston boundary, has not been formally consulted over the plans.
But parish clerk Mr Jack Coulson said he had taken soundings amongst members and sent objections opposing the scheme on traffic grounds.
He said unless there was a new motorway link to the A6 at Brock the road system would be "total chaos."
Preston City Council, which is being consulted by Wyre as a neighbouring authority, will decide its stance at its planning meeting on December 3. Council leader Coun Ken Hudson has already said the city will object.