‘Sometimes things do not go to plan’

There are some searching questions being asked following Sunday’s Bob Jones Memorial Airshow which was hit by a big drop in audience numbers.

The people’s inquest has begun with some blaming a weak line-up of displays and the price of parking and tickets for putting them off.

It is estimated that a crowd of around 2,500 attended, well down from the 10,000 capacity of only a couple of years ago.

But two bizarre stories have also come to light, with a cyclist from Newtown being told that he could not cycle up the closed road to the airport so turned back and went home, and another man on a mobility scooter being told he would have to cough up £20 to access the site as a ‘motorist’.

While organisers remain upbeat about the event and say a clearer statement about its future will be issued in due course, Robert Robinson, town clerk, replied to the immediate concerns.

“The Air Show is a large event and sometimes things do not go quite to plan,” he admitted. “The road closure would apply to all including cyclists for safety. Those who had issues with ticketing and who contacted us have been sorted.

“No further comment at this time. The show was well organised but the weather again was unkind. Such is life. When it is appropriate news will be issued.”

However, a number of people have also praised the event's organisation through social media.