Bournemouth councillors agree Air Festival budget cuts

The Red Arrows have been the top attraction at the Bournemouth Air Festival

Councillors have voted to cease funding Bournemouth Air Festival after next year and instead seek support from private sponsors.

Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is considering new ways of running and funding the event amid a budget deficit, now estimated at £50m.

Proposals included capping the net cost of the 2024 air show at £200,000.

At a meeting of the council's cabinet, seven councillors voted in favour of the recommendations, with one against.

The agreed proposals will also see the 2024 air show cut from four days to three, with a community-run fun day on the Sunday, aimed at luring visitors out of Bournemouth and into Christchurch and Poole.

Presenting the report, councillor Millie Earl said the £200,000 net cost contribution was contingent on raising £100,000 through sponsorship and donations.

Finance councillor Mike Cox said: "If we haven't seen £100,000 contribution coming in by the time we start spending money then the event doesn't happen."

Council leader Vikki Slade added: "We still have several months and there have been intense conversations happening."

A petition has been lodged with the council to "continue the air festival"

Culture councillor Andy Martin said he had been told of some "extraordinary names of organisations" interested in supporting the air festival.

He added: "It hasn't really changed much since 2008 - I hope this is an opportunity now for the air show, to be a stepping stone to something else in 2025, something that is more about innovation."

Earlier in the meeting Mr Cox explained that the council's budget deficit for 2024/25 had increased from £44m to £50m following the government's announcement of an increase to the National Living Wage.

A petition lodged with the council to "continue the air festival", which closes next week, has so far gained about 100 signatures.

At least 2,000 signatures are required for the issue to be debated by full council.

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