Cancelled international air show to cost Council almost £300,000

An international air show that was cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September has cost a local council approximately £279,000.

The figure was revealed in the minutes of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council's Airshow Project Board Meeting which took place on October 7 2022.

A report presented to the Leisure and Development Committee on Tuesday confirmed that the air show had been cancelled after 'email confirmation' that no RAF air assets would be available.

The cancellation came within 24 hours of the event's starting point, with a summary of the financial position revealing the events had resulted in an 'unavoidable and significant cost' to Council.

Prior to the event's cancellation, there was a projected Council expenditure on the event of £517,000, with a projected income of £198,000 and a net cost of running the event projected at £315,000.

However, the document detailed the estimated net cost to Council after the event's cancellation to be in the region of £279,000.

A report for the 2023 events schedule is to be brought before members in December 2022, which will include the original motion that referred to the event taking place every two years.

The minutes also said a 'fully costed report' would be presented to the Leisure and Development Committee in December 'if required'.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Kathleen McGurk.

A reference to the minutes from Sinn Féin councillor Kathleen McGurk also resulted in a minor spat in the chamber on Tuesday.

Cllr McGurk said it was 'irresponsible' to be paying out hundreds of thousands of pounds for an event that Council 'can't afford to run', and proposed no automatic funding for the event.

An official said the events programme would be brought before members in the usual fashion and that there would still be a decision to ratify or not.

DUP councillor John McAuley said Sinn Féin's opposition to the air show was 'nothing new'.

“We need to highlight that Sinn Féin have never supported the air show, so to use the cost of living is just being opportunistic,” he said.”

“It wouldn't matter what the circumstances, they have always been against the air show because they are against anything that is whatsoever British involved in it.

International Air Show cancelled following Queen's death

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council announced the news this morning.

“Because the military is involved, they don't want to be anywhere near it. This is just another angle to try and get at this event. It's nothing new.”

Cllr Richard Holmes welcomed that it would be looked at again.

“It is a lot of money and personally speaking, I'm not entirely convinced it is the best way to spend money in the area,” he said.