Latest news with #BournemouthAirFestival
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Is the Bournemouth Air Festival taking place this year?
Organised by the BCP Council, it began in 2008 and took place annually, after only having missed a year in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of people descended on Bournemouth each time to watch a range of different aircraft completing displays in the sky. However, doubts began to emerge over the viability of the event due to the cost of running it. Bournemouth Air Festival has taken place since 2008 (Image: Rob Fleming) It was said that Bournemouth Air Festival cost the council £400,000 on average, with a reduced 'more modest' event in 2024 costing around £250,000. Is the Bournemouth Air Festival taking place this year? Bournemouth Air Festival will not be returning in 2025, due to the BCP Council saying it could no longer fund the event. In a council overview and scrutiny board meeting on June 9, Councillor Kate Salmon agreed the festival brought in money to the local economy but maintained that the council was unable to fund it. She said cuts have been made to libraries to save money, and that council taxpayers expect money to be spent on these services rather than 'a few days of business service a year'. The bigger question now is regarding if the Air Festival will ever return. BCP Council has said it can no longer fund the Air Festival (Image: Rob Fleming) Will Bournemouth Air Festival ever return? It was previously reported that American operator Pacific Airshow was in talks with the council to take over Bournemouth Air Festival. However, at the overview and scrutiny board meeting, Cllr Richard Herrett confirmed the operator had since pulled out. It was said that the company, which hosts similar annual air shows in the US, requested to shut the Bournemouth promenade during the event, which would provide legal difficulties. The operator said one of the reasons they decided to withdraw was the inability to restrict the area, which made it challenging to create a "financially sustainable model." Cllr Herrett proposed that the council stop actively searching for new sponsors and instead focus on new events. Sharing a similar sentiment, Cllr Michelle Dower said: "I think the air festival has had its day, I think it's done." Pacific Airshow was in talks with the council to take over Bournemouth Air Festival but these fell through (Image: Rob Fleming) She said "we are currently in a climate emergency" and that the council should find different ways to attract tourism. Due to these recommendations, it is unlikely that the Bournemouth Air Festival will ever return. In a statement about the event, Cllr Millie Earl, leader of BCP Council, said: 'Along with other councils, ours is in a challenging financial situation which is why the Bournemouth Air Festival in 2024 was to be the last council funded air show. 'Over the past year, we have worked hard to engage a future operator and seek sponsorship for future Air Festivals but unfortunately this has so far been unsuccessful. 'We are still open to any interest from potential operators or sponsors. A petition has since been set up on titled 'Save Bournemouth Air Festival: Keep the Tradition Alive'. Recommended reading: At the time of writing, it has 1,234 verified signatures, with the profile of the page describing the air festival as a "heartfelt celebration of our community's spirit and resilience". It adds: "Over the years, it has provided significant economic benefits by boosting local businesses and attracting thousands of tourists who contribute to the local economy. "The cancellation of this beloved event would not only result in the loss of cherished memories and future experiences but would also starkly affect the livelihood of many residing in Bournemouth."
Scottish Sun
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Fury as woke council ‘bans fun' by scrapping popular airshow despite it making £60 MILLION for local economy
NO FUN ZONE Fury as woke council 'bans fun' by scrapping popular airshow despite it making £60 MILLION for local economy Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A WOKE council blamed climate change as it axed a popular air show despite it making £60million for the local economy. The four-day Bournemouth Air Festival, featuring the Red Arrows, has run for 16 years and attracts 600,000 fans. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The Bournemouth Air Festival has run for 16 years and attracts 600,000 fans Credit: Getty 2 The local authority scrapped the airshow this year saying it cannot afford £250,000 to stage it and also citing carbon emissions Credit: PA But the cash-strapped local authority said it cannot afford £250,000 to stage it and also cited the carbon emissions the planes and the extra traffic produce as a reason for stopping it. Bosses at the Lib Dem-run council, which has just hired a new chief executive on a salary of £220,000, are accused of being killjoys and lacking ambition. Conservative councillor Phil Broadhead said: 'Saying we don't like planes, therefore we should ban the air festival for the sake of three or four days that brings millions to the local economy is a step too far. 'On that note, we shouldn't be doing anything that generates any carbon whatsoever. 'What we are doing is banning fun.' Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association chairwoman Rosie Radwell said: 'It is a great shame because the air festival was a big boost for Bournemouth. 'It is a huge loss to the area. 'I don't think tourism is the top priority for this council.' Asked about its impact on the climate she said: 'I don't think it was as bad as they said. 'And I don't think it's as bad as they say.' Highlights of the RAF Red Arrows' jaw-dropping displays from 2024 Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
The Sun
22-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Fury as woke council ‘bans fun' by scrapping popular airshow despite it making £60 MILLION for local economy
A WOKE council blamed climate change as it axed a popular air show despite it making £60million for the local economy. The four-day Bournemouth Air Festival, featuring the Red Arrows, has run for 16 years and attracts 600,000 fans. 2 2 But the cash-strapped local authority said it cannot afford £250,000 to stage it and also cited the carbon emissions the planes and the extra traffic produce as a reason for stopping it. Bosses at the Lib Dem -run council, which has just hired a new chief executive on a salary of £220,000, are accused of being killjoys and lacking ambition. Conservative councillor Phil Broadhead said: 'Saying we don't like planes, therefore we should ban the air festival for the sake of three or four days that brings millions to the local economy is a step too far. 'On that note, we shouldn't be doing anything that generates any carbon whatsoever. 'What we are doing is banning fun.' Bournemouth Area Hospitality Association chairwoman Rosie Radwell said: 'It is a great shame because the air festival was a big boost for Bournemouth. 'It is a huge loss to the area. 'I don't think tourism is the top priority for this council.' Asked about its impact on the climate she said: 'I don't think it was as bad as they said. 'And I don't think it's as bad as they say.'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What has happened to Bournemouth Air Festival?
As hopes of a 2026 edition of Bournemouth Air Festival fade, what factors have led to its demise, and will it ever return? The private air show operator that was expected to run the event on a 10-year contract has pulled out of talks. The major sticking point was its plan to close the promenade and seafront between the piers, which the council said it legally could not do. The US-based firm has also blamed the "instability of the financial and political climate" for its decision to withdraw. The free air festival was first held in 2008 and has taken place every August, with the exception of 2020 when Covid restrictions were in place. At its peak, it attracted about 1.3 million visitors to the seaside conurbation, and estimates of how much it annually contributed to the local economy vary from £14m to £59m. But the cost to the council has sky-rocketed in recent years, with hikes across insurance, security, infrastructure and counter-terrorism measures. Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) said its net budget for the four-day festival had risen from £300,000 in 2019 to £400,000 by 2022. New legislation brought in after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing is also set to significantly increase costs for all organisers of public events. The authority, which has been run by a coalition since 2023, has already slashed millions from its budget as it grapples with a huge deficit for its special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services. Half a million people attended the final council-funded air show in 2024, which was scaled back from four days to three, with the final net cost to the council reaching £248,000. In the months that followed, officers explored two options - one was for a sponsor to foot the £400,000 bill of a council-run event, the other was for an external operator to run the air show at no cost to the authority. With no firm offers of sponsorship, but five potential operators raising their hand, things began to look up. But those early discussions led to just two firm expressions of interest and, with one of those requiring financial backing from the council, the initial flurry of enquiries quickly dwindled to a shortlist of one. BCP's destination and leisure councillor Richard Herrett said the prospective organisers had flown from the US to attend the 2024 event, but had drawn up a "wide range of requests that would have created significant financial pressures on the council". A report to BCP councillors said the plan to close off the beach and promenade between Boscombe and Bournemouth piers was to enable "a variety of hospitality offers ranging in price". But the authority said the firm's "non-negotiable" request presented legal difficulties, as fencing off the area would contravene the Open Spaces Act 1906. After the report was published, but before councillors met to discuss it, the company announced it was pulling out. In a letter read to councillors, the operator, whose name was redacted, said: "Several factors led us to this decision, with the most significant being that, without the ability to fence off and restrict access to a significant part of the beach and the surrounding areas, it would be challenging to create a financially sustainable event model. "The instability of the financial and political climate were also factors that would challenge us to deliver the event in a similar manner to our other events." Council leader Millie Earl said: "We are still open to any interest from potential operators or sponsors. "In the meantime, we remain invested in the cultural future of our beautiful area and are continuing to work with our partners and support others where we can." The council says its Bay Run, Arts By the Sea Festival and Christmas in Bournemouth events will still go ahead. But, with 12-months needed to organise the air show, any potential air show sponsor or operator would now be working towards 2027 at the earliest. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Bournemouth Air Festival in doubt as sponsor search ends In pictures: Bournemouth Air Festival 2024 BCP Council
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
What has happened to Bournemouth Air Festival?
As hopes of a 2026 edition of Bournemouth Air Festival fade, what factors have led to its demise, and will it ever return?The private air show operator that was expected to run the event on a 10-year contract has pulled out of major sticking point was its plan to close the promenade and seafront between the piers, which the council said it legally could not US-based firm has also blamed the "instability of the financial and political climate" for its decision to withdraw. The free air festival was first held in 2008 and has taken place every August, with the exception of 2020 when Covid restrictions were in its peak, it attracted about 1.3 million visitors to the seaside conurbation, and estimates of how much it annually contributed to the local economy vary from £14m to £ the cost to the council has sky-rocketed in recent years, with hikes across insurance, security, infrastructure and counter-terrorism measures. Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) said its net budget for the four-day festival had risen from £300,000 in 2019 to £400,000 by legislation brought in after the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing is also set to significantly increase costs for all organisers of public authority, which has been run by a coalition since 2023, has already slashed millions from its budget as it grapples with a huge deficit for its special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) a million people attended the final council-funded air show in 2024, which was scaled back from four days to three, with the final net cost to the council reaching £248, the months that followed, officers explored two options - one was for a sponsor to foot the £400,000 bill of a council-run event, the other was for an external operator to run the air show at no cost to the no firm offers of sponsorship, but five potential operators raising their hand, things began to look those early discussions led to just two firm expressions of interest and, with one of those requiring financial backing from the council, the initial flurry of enquiries quickly dwindled to a shortlist of destination and leisure councillor Richard Herrett said the prospective organisers had flown from the US to attend the 2024 event, but had drawn up a "wide range of requests that would have created significant financial pressures on the council".A report to BCP councillors said the plan to close off the beach and promenade between Boscombe and Bournemouth piers was to enable "a variety of hospitality offers ranging in price".But the authority said the firm's "non-negotiable" request presented legal difficulties, as fencing off the area would contravene the Open Spaces Act 1906. After the report was published, but before councillors met to discuss it, the company announced it was pulling a letter read to councillors, the operator, whose name was redacted, said: "Several factors led us to this decision, with the most significant being that, without the ability to fence off and restrict access to a significant part of the beach and the surrounding areas, it would be challenging to create a financially sustainable event model."The instability of the financial and political climate were also factors that would challenge us to deliver the event in a similar manner to our other events."Council leader Millie Earl said: "We are still open to any interest from potential operators or sponsors. "In the meantime, we remain invested in the cultural future of our beautiful area and are continuing to work with our partners and support others where we can."The council says its Bay Run, Arts By the Sea Festival and Christmas in Bournemouth events will still go with 12-months needed to organise the air show, any potential air show sponsor or operator would now be working towards 2027 at the earliest. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
