A SUGGESTION that a New South Wales town's attractive showground be thrown open to caravanners and other travellers has angered local residents.

Now members of the Mid-Western Regional Council have rejected a request from a local caravan park that it could be used as an overflow during peak holiday periods.

Rylstone Caravan Park manager Roger Sammut wrote to the council saying increasing bookings were outstripping his park's capacity.

He suggested the riverside Rylstone Showground – described by the council as "a quaint country showground that boasts plenty of open space, picturesque settings and a variety of facilities" – could accommodate overflow tourists.

But Rylstone-Kandos Show Society officials were reportedly "outraged" at the idea and met at the showground to discuss the issue.

According to local media, president David Clarke believed the proposal was an easy option and an easy fix which would ruin a wonderful asset to the community.

"This would destroy what is considered to be the jewel in the crown of all showgrounds in NSW," he claimed.

Councillor Peter Shelley said everyone in the community was opposed to the proposal. "More than 300 people have spoken to me about this and not one spoke in favour of it," he told media.

Several other councillors suggested that other options should be investigated to cater for the growing number of travellers arriving in the region.

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