Eastbourne and Willingdon MP Caroline Ansell and Project Manager for the first Airbourne Anne Angel have launched a town campaign to Keep Airbourne Flying as the borough council debates its future.
This year’s event was a huge success for the town after Covid grounded the spectacle for two years.
Many thousands of visitors came in a big boost to the town’s vital hospitality and tourism sectors.
However, the Liberal Democrat-run council has not cleared Airbourne 2023 for take-off. Its future still hangs in the balance.
“I am so proud of the fact that I was part of the team that started Airbourne in 1993, it's so great from those small beginnings that it has developed into a major national event,” said Anne. “It keeps Eastbourne on the map and generates jobs, investment and income for our town. It needs a secure future. That its future is in even in doubt is deeply disappointing!”
“Volunteers and local groups do a magnificent job in helping to raise funds through the bucket collection but it is sad if the council’s shaky finances mean the event is year on year vulnerable when it makes such a real difference to local livelihoods,” Caroline said. “And funding is not the only issue to overcome either,” she added.
“I know the Liberal Democrats are conflicted about the ‘carbon cost’ of Airbourne but I was on the Airbourne project board so I know how hard the Events team and council officers have worked to make the event the great success it is and ever more environmentally sustainable.
“I also know just how valuable this event is to the town. For our tourism sector who need to move quickly to secure return visitors, we need to end this uncertainty.
“I’ve had people in huge numbers approach me to keep Airbourne flying and so I’ve set up a petition as another way for us to send a message to the council to commit now.”
Anyone who wants to secure Airbourne’s future can sign up here.
https://signup.backourcampaign.co.uk/keep-airbourne-flying
The four-day event is believed to be the biggest free air show in the UK.
