Low turn out at RHA Show
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THE ROAD Haulage Association Road Transport Show was not the success in crowd terms that the organisers had hoped for. RHA anticipated between 25,000 and 50,000 people and had printed 30,000 catalogues.
After a slow start on Saturday — there was a reported attendance of 500 — the generous estimate at the close on Monday was over 8000 but less than 10,000.
The show was well supported by the manufacturing and operating sides of the industry. There must be doubts in the organisers' minds that it achieved its objective of converting much of "Joe Public's" opinion to road transport.
The Marquis of Abergavenny, Lord Lieutenant of Sussex, opened the show and the Minister of Transport, Norman Fowler, visited thestands on Sunday.
The show was organised to coincide with the RHA conference (see pages 32-34 this issue) but stand holders told CM that they would need to rethink before they would participate at a similar event.
Representatives of the stand holders met the organisers in almost militant mood early on Sunday with proposals to give the attendance a boost.
An on-the-spot publicity campaign was set up and attendance had picked up before the Minister arrived.
It is understood that the RHA will look at the entire concept at a post-conference inquest.