Decision on the future of Welshpool Air Show expected 'within weeks'

The Bob Jones Memorial Air Show, run in conjunction with the town council, suffered from poor weather conditions at this year’s event on June 11, attracting crowds of under 3,000, despite in past years attracting up to 10,000 supporters.

It is the second year weather has hit the show, and following this year’s event, people were unsure if next year’s event would go ahead. and said rising costs and set backs would mean it is ‘doubtful the show could continue.’

Hours after the show finished, Welshpool Town Clerk Robert Robinson, a key organiser of the show, refused to comment on its future, and has again refused to discuss its future, but insisted an announcement will be made in the coming weeks.

He said: “There will be probably be an announcement in two to three weeks when councillors have talked about the issue.

“We know numbers were down, but you have to get the weather and you can’t control it.

“Rain was dripping off noses at the Newtown Carnival, then last week people were slapping the suncream on for the Llanfair Caereinion event, so you never know with the weather.

“In England you can get insurance against the weather for events, but in Wales it is much, much harder to get.”

Mr Robinson hit back at people claiming the show may not return, just hours after it had finished.

He added: “People made a big issue out of it and have said it won’t go ahead, and these comments have been made by people who have nothing to do with the air show, and have no idea what they are talking about.”

“I wasn’t going to comment 24 hours after the show had finished, and we won’t until councillors have discussed the matter later this month, and an announcement is made.

The event has become one of the biggest events in the region’s social calendar, traditionally piggybacking the the Cosford Air Show and sharing a a fly past by the famous Red Arrows.

It has been held at Welshpool Airport for the past 10 years but was renamed in 2012 after its founder, and owner of Welshpool Airport, Mr Jones, died in a plane crash.

County Councillor Graham Breeze had said last month it surely couldn’t keep going at any cost to the tax payer.

He said: “The show is organised by Welshpool Town Council in conjunction with Bob’s family and flying enthusiasts but costs of staging the event have soared since new legislation was imposed following the vintage jet crash at Shoreham Air Show back in 2015 which killed 11 people and seriously injured another 16.

“The event made a comfortable profit in 2015 after thousands were diverted from a packed Cosford Air Show to Welshpool but suffered losses in 2016 and despite cutting operating costs Sunday’s bad weather may mean organisers having to take a difficult decision about the future.

“Many air shows across the country have been scrapped because of health and safety and rising insurance costs and members of Welshpool Town Council will soon be asked if they wish to continue taking the risk of backing the event.

“Without the town council’s support and organising skills it is doubtful the show could continue but it surely shouldn’t keep flying at any cost to the town’s council tax payers.”