Committee agrees 2026 Airshow should be postponed until 2028

Councillors have voted to postpone next year's airshow for two years year.

Cloonavin's Leisure and Development Committee agreed this evening to delay the event after hearing its scheduling alongside two one-off events - Armed Forces Day and celebrations marking the 250^th anniversary of the USA's Declaration of Independence - would place pressure on the council's staff and budget.

The DUP proposed backing an option presented by officers to plan an airshow and allocate resources for “a future date, possibly in 2027 or beyond.”

The party's suggested date of 2028 was agreed by eight votes to one with six abstentions.

The committee also agreed that year would see all council-run events reviewed to ensure value for money.

Councillors had previously decided airshows would be held every other year.

Last year's event came at a cost of around £400,000.

Tonight's decision was taken subject to ratification by the full council early next month.

Read much more in next week's Chronicle.