Wings and Wheels in doubt after village 'uproar'

Organisers blame the adverse reaction from locals at the prospect of the show being held at Lower Cockshutt Farm in Chetton, Bridgnorth.

The twice-yearly charity event had been moved to the new site after it was forced to leave Halfpenny Green Airport in Bobbington.

But after it was revealed last week that the show was set to go ahead under the new name Bridgnorth Wings and Wheels in Chetton, a number of villagers got in touch with farm owner Roy Millington.

Mr Millington said they voiced concerns that planes would be circling in the air and that 5,000 people would be descending on the area as they did on Halfpenny Green.

After being inundated with calls, Mr Millington told show organisers he no longer wanted the vent to be help on his land.

The Bridgnorth Wings and Wheels Facebook page said that villagers had been in "uproar" and Mr Millington had cancelled the event to avoid upsetting his neighbours.

It said people had wrongly come to the conclusion that the event, which was scheduled for Easter on March 27 and 28, was an air show. In fact this year's event would have only seen planes started up, none would be flying or coming into land, and a maximum of 2,000 people would be expected.

Organiser Vaughan Mears is now trying to salvage the plans, and wants to reassure residents and Mr Millington what the plans for the event are, and appeal to them to allow the event to go ahead.

He said: "People think it's an air show and people in the village are now worried that there are going to be planes flying near Bridgnorth.

"The owner of the farm, who is a lovely man, has been inundated with phone calls from horrified people in the village.

"He doesn't want to upset them so he has cancelled the event."

The shows raise money for local air cadets, scouts and other charities, and help to fund Tettenhall Museum of Transport Trust, which now also faces an uncertain future.

Mr Mears said: "It's a charity event and now the charity is going to lose out.

"We think we might even have to close the museum.

"We sent Roy an email yesterday, hopefully he might change his mind.

"We need to reassure people. Poor Roy's phone hasn't stopped ringing, he's a wonderful bloke and really came to our rescue."

If the event does go ahead, a Hawker Harrier jet fighter will be started up, but won't taxi visitors up and down the airstrip.

No planes will be coming in to land either, despite original plans to have eight to ten light aircraft land at the site.

Mr Millington today declined to comment.