Petition launched to save Sunderland Airshow on change.org

Sunderland Council announced on Monday (October 17) that it has no plans to host the air show in the future, citing its requirement to become carbon neutral by 2040.

The air show had been cancelled due to Covid over the last three years, but is now unlikely to ever return after the unexpected announcement.

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Now an online petition has been launched calling on Sunderland Council to U-turn on its decision to cancel the event, and it’s already racking up hundreds of signatures.

Crowds normally pack out Roker and Seaburn seafront for the event.

In a statement, Sam Johnston who started the petition, said: “Sunderland International Airshow is a beloved local event which is of massive importance to the City of Sunderland.

“The long-running event, established in 1988, provides a massive economic boost to businesses such as hotels, restaurants and bars along the seafront and gives local residents a unique spectacle that puts their city on the map.

“We call on Sunderland’s Labour Council to U-turn on their decision to cancel the event and to apologise to residents for making this awful decision without proper consultation.”

The petition has been signed by more than 530 people, as of 5pm on Thursday (October 20).

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Speaking out in support of the campaign to reinstate the airshow, opposition Lib Dem councillor for Grindon and Thorney Close, Paul Edgeworth said: “Instead of acting as a self-imposed fun police, Sunderland Council's Labour bosses should listen to the outcry from local people, do the decent thing and re-instate the Airshow.

Paul Edgeworth, who previously called for Newcastle Airport to be renamed to include Sunderland

“We need a big, flagship and free-to-attend event in the city that the whole family can enjoy - and that's exactly what Sunderland Airshow provides.

“Labour's lame, last-minute excuse that this is all due to carbon emissions is fooling no-one. They can't even tell us how much carbon axing the Airshow would save. The Council must now get a grip of their failing events strategy which been in chaos in recent years.

“This Airshow fiasco is just the latest in a trend of events underperforming or being cancelled at the last minute like this summer's Lamplight Festival - costing Council Tax payers £10,000s in cancellation fees.”

Sunderland City Council leader Councillor Graeme Miller said: “The Tories really need to make up their minds. In 2019 they wanted to reduce the airshow to once every two years as part of their alternative budget. Now they want to reinstate it.

“The City Council has invested more than £10m in regenerating the city’s award-winning seafront over the last few years to make it a year-round visitor destination.

"This has helped bring in new businesses and visitor attractions such as Stack Seaburn, providing a boost to the local economy all year round, not just on one weekend in July.

“We remain committed to delivering events for families at our wonderful award-winning seafront, including the World Triathlon Championship Series and an Armed Forces event at the seafront next summer, as we continue to grow and evolve our events programme with a mix that appeals to residents and visitors alike.

"That’s why we are working hard to bring new and exciting events to our city alongside firmly established family favourites."

He added the council's events plan would focus on key areas to "grow the city’s offer for residents and visitors".

This included attracting new events such as the World Triathlon Championship Series next summer, developing innovative new events as part of Sunderland’s Smart City initiative, supporting established events organised by local communities such as the Boxing Day Dip, the Waves Music Festival and Summer Streets 

And it would maximising the potential of concerts and other major events by "animating the city and creating a programme of activity around those dates".

Cllr Miller said: “This all has to be seen in the context of the wider city and continued investment in regeneration projects such as the Fire Station auditorium, plans for a new arena and Culture House and a new leisure and events destination in Sheepfolds, as part of the Riverside development, that will all bring their own year round economic benefits for the city and wider region.”

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