Council may not pay for Bournemouth Air Festival to return
Bournemouth Town Council has concerns that the festival would increase how much money had to be collected in council tax
Bournemouth Town Council will not bring back the Bournemouth Air Festival if it increases how much money needs to be collected in council tax.
Bournemouth Air Festival has taken place every August since 2008 (with the exception of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic).
The free festival stretched 1.5 miles from Bournemouth to Boscombe Pier and lasted three days, with a wide variety of aircrafts, Royal Navy vessels, interactive attractions and a fireworks display.
Half a million people are estimated to have attended the last air show in 2024, which was the last to be funded by the larger Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP).
As BCP Council wanted to balance its budget, the festival was axed despite frequent calls to bring it back.
One particular bid was turned down last year as it lacked "sufficient information" to progress the application.
Cllr Mark Anderson, leader of Bournemouth Reform Group, which controls the council, said: “I would love to bring back the Bournemouth Air Festival, but I’m not going to bring it back if it increases the precept by two or three hundred pounds a year for residents.
“I was one of the people involved in setting it up in when I first joined the council. I have always been a strong supporter of the festival.”
Reform UK has gained control of Bournemouth Town Council, and since then has reiterated its election pledge to keep the cost of the precept as low as possible.