Bournemouth Air Festival: Decision looms over event's future

BCP Council leader Cllr Vikki Slade said the administration will be “looking at future options” for the huge established event.

Any decisions will not impact on this year’s air festival, which is scheduled to take place from August 31 to September 3.

Cllr Philip Broadhead, leader of the opposition, said the hospitality industry “vehemently disagrees” with scrapping the four-day show and his Conservative group will campaign for it to stay.

The Three Towns Alliance administration, which took control of the council after last month’s local elections, is expected to deal with an item titled ‘Future Options - Bournemouth Air Festival’ at its first cabinet meeting on July 26.

A summary of the forthcoming decision published on the local authority’s website said: “To make a decision on the future of Bournemouth Air Festival beyond 2023.”

It is likely a report will be published in the week before the meeting.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Slade said: “The Three Towns Alliance is committed to being an open and transparent council, where challenges are welcomed.

Cllr Vikki Slade (Image: Freelance)

“We are pragmatic and honest regarding the council’s financial position, and while there are discussions to be had regarding all events, it is important we take the opportunity as a cabinet to look at future options for the Bournemouth Air Festival, from 2024 onwards.”

As reported, the then minority Conservative administration running the council fended off an attempt to suspended the air festival for a “one-year break”, with this proposal said to deliver a £400,000 saving.

Cllr Broadhead said his group won the argument at budget setting in February against other parties who wanted to “either scrap or seriously curtail” the event.

The former council leader said “it now looks inevitable that the new Lib Dem led alliance is clear in their intent to see the end of this much-loved part of our area's tourist offer”.

“This is not about money; the cost to the council after taking into account all of the extra income from ice creams, parking etc is in the £10,000s,” Cllr Broadhead said. “And yet independent analysis shows that this event brings in circa £59m to the local economy each year.

Cllr Philip Broadhead (Image: BCP Council)

"I can think of no other event or initiative that brings in that much to the local economy for such little investment.

“Instead, this is about ideology: and a view from many parties that this amazing festival which attracts almost one million visitors per year doesn’t fit in with their agenda. We know the hospitality industry vehemently disagrees with its scrapping and the Conservatives will continually campaign for this mainstay of our calendar to stay."