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Published on: 07/09/2019 04:18 PMReported by: roving-eye
Sad times for Southport Air Show as crowds stay away.
The planes may have been in the sky but the "Air Show Village" was non existent apart from a Chinook and a couple of flight simulators. Large empty spaces along the Marine Drive and the area next to the Ocean Plaza where Military Displays used to be in years gone by.
A beach full of fast food vans and toilets made for a depressing sight.
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I presume these pictures are from last night not today?
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The top one is from today
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Originally Posted by roving-eye
The top one is from today
Most of the crowds were on the sea wall and the beach not strolling down the road.
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Originally Posted by roving-eye
The top one is from today
Not quite sure what time you took those pics, but it was jammed solid by 12 noon, and stayed that way until after the end !!!
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"Sad times for Southport Air Show as crowds stay away."
I agree, I live in a street which connects Lord St to the Promenade, a few years ago I had to go out early to shop etc before the traffic build up as late morning it would be at a standstill, now I don't bother as its just like a normal weekend. The Red Arrows were always the main attraction, add to that this years appearance of the RAF Tucano will be its final farewell so it doesn't leave much. Its not a case of doom-mongering, its past its sell by date and should be ended.
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Originally Posted by Theatrics
"Sad times for Southport Air Show as crowds stay away."
I agree, I live in a street which connects Lord St to the Promenade, a few years ago I had to go out early to shop etc before the traffic build up as late morning it would be at a standstill, now I don't bother as its just like a normal weekend. The Red Arrows were always the main attraction, add to that this years appearance of the RAF Tucano will be its final farewell so it doesn't leave much. Its not a case of doom-mongering, its past its sell by date and should be ended.
At its height (excuse pun!) , spectators numbered in excess of 200,000, that was when the air show was free. The numbers in 2017 were 60,000. In around 2005, the council charged £20-£25 for parking - but have now reduced this considerably to £6 per car. The events of the air show have also reduced. The spectacular commercial air liner only featured once over the years, the Red Arrows appear now and again, the Spitfire, Hurricane and the Lancaster have now been retired from the Southport Air show.
Understandably, funding is a major problem - but if the council were more active in seeking sponsorship from various sources such as Warton Air Base, John Lennon Airport, a couple of the larger Air Line companies, local businesses etc., and if the stall holders attending the show contributed - the show could be made to be far more spectacular with low spectator costs. In fact there are several public attractions that could be organised to raise funds for the local town, and would be - if Southport people could be assured the money raised would be spent on the town.
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Northern Fail cancelled 9 services to and from the town on Saturday, so how do you expect to be able to attract visitors to the town, if they get here they may not be able to get home, they will remember and never return.
And another 4 on Sunday.
Last edited by Alikado; 09/09/2019 at 11:55 AM.
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Originally Posted by said
At its height (excuse pun!) , spectators numbered in excess of 200,000, that was when the air show was free. The numbers in 2017 were 60,000.
When it was free then the attendance could only have been an estimate and would include everyone who came to the town whereas more recent attendance figures would only be based on ticket sales and would not include those who came to watch if for free but still spent money in the town.
if the stall holders attending the show contributed
They do, but they're unlikely to be happy about paying more and reducing any profit they make.
In fact there are several public attractions that could be organised to raise funds for the local town, and would be - if Southport people could be assured the money raised would be spent on the town.
What are these attractions? Who is holding back from organising them because they want assurances on how the profits are spent?
Should the profits from the Strand be ring-fenced to be spent in Bootle?
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Traffic wise it does seem quieter.
Perhaps we need some aerial photos they must exist.
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Apparently the council are reporting that the airshow this year was a roaring success, which is great. However I'm not so sure. As I remember years ago on airshow days not being able to get out onto the Formby bypass due to the HUGE amounts of traffic headed into Southport. Once you got onto the bypass you'd be sat in queues for ages. And then later in the day the traffic returning was just as bad if not worse. There were jams everywhere. In recent years though the Airshow traffic makes seemingly no difference to the bypass traffic etc at all.
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not just the air show but generally traffic this year has been a lot quieter on the by pass , I can only assume people have had a basin full of being ripped off or herded into overpriced car parks and decided to go else where .
I have also decided to give a big swerve to places that milk the car driving masses ...
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Originally Posted by salus.populi
When it was free then the attendance could only have been an estimate and would include everyone who came to the town whereas more recent attendance figures would only be based on ticket sales and would not include those who came to watch if for free but still spent money in the town.
They do, but they're unlikely to be happy about paying more and reducing any profit they make.
What are these attractions? Who is holding back from organising them because they want assurances on how the profits are spent?
Should the profits from the Strand be ring-fenced to be spent in Bootle?
Mmmh! Blackpool's audience estimates for their free show appear to be a lot higher and would also have included the numbers into town.
Well - put another way. I live not far from where the venue was held. I did not go as I can see most from my house. In the past, the Air Show meant our streets - no parking charges - was absolutely full! No change to a normal day for the past couple of years.
Nope! You can save the profits from the Strand to purchase a sign post showing directions to Southport!
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Originally Posted by said
Mmmh! Blackpool's audience estimates for their free show appear to be a lot higher and would also have included the numbers into town.
Well - put another way. I live not far from where the venue was held. I did not go as I can see most from my house. In the past, the Air Show meant our streets - no parking charges - was absolutely full! No change to a normal day for the past couple of years.
Nope! You can save the profits from the Strand to purchase a sign post showing directions to Southport!
very quiete this year.douglas raf made a brave frequent tour over the area! we wouldn't win b of b from this years show.
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