Threat to air show on Shropshire border as host venue pulls out
An air show that raises thousands of pounds for charity every year is in jeopardy after bosses at Halfpenny Green Airport pulled out of hosting the display.
Organisers of the Wings and Wheels shows, at Easter and August bank holiday, have been left "absolutely devastated" by the decision.
Bosses at the airport, on the Shropshire border near Bridgnorth, say only that after providing a venue for the several years, they no longer wish to do so.
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.
Event organiser Vaughan Meers said he was bewildered by airport chiefs' change of heart but vowed that the show would go on.
He said: "I'm shocked and absolutely devastated by this decision. To pull out at this late stage, when it takes months to organise a show. We've been given no reason for the decision, it's a disgrace."
Around 5,000 people flocked to last year's two-day August event at the airfield in Bobbington, which starred The Red Arrows and raised £9,000 for charity.
It was the Wings and Wheels' sixth consecutive year. Mr Meers said they had been planning a special show this year to mark its 75th anniversary as an airfield.
Alternative
He is trying to find an alternative venue in the region and is currently in discussion with Sleap Airfield north of Shrewsbury, and sites in Worcestershire and Leicestershire.
Alec Brew, co-organiser and curator of the Tettenhall Museum of Transport in Wolverhampton, said fans of the event were "gutted" by its demise.
"People say there's nothing like it in area. It won't be the same if it goes outside the area. Halfpenny Green is the nearest airport to Wolverhampton – it's where we draw our support and it's where the money we raise goes.
"The museum's roof leaks and is badly in need of repair, and it also needs 12 new windows. It's Wolverhampton's only transport museum run entirely by volunteers.
"The airport's decision is puzzling. The show is a nice, friendly, family event and 20 per cent of out gate money went to the venue who were also paid landing fees by all the aircraft who flew in for the show."
The airport's operations manager Alastair Mackinnon told the Shropshire Star: "The Wings and Wheels event isn't going to go ahead, that was my decision.
"We have supported the event for a number of years but we don't wish to do so at this time."
