I FIRST wrote in to the Echo on the matter of jets at the air festival in September 2012, speaking then of the huge noise impact, and the dangers to our town and suburbs.
I am sorry now to write in again after the dreadful loss of life at Shoreham.
As I said in 2012, with all the excitement we are being blinded by the spectacle and not seeing the dangers.
The worst of it now I think are councillors, such as Mike Green, and others, making the case that because the air festival is hugely “popular” it is then all okay and justified.
But mass popularity does not make anything right and safe, including air displays over towns, any more than popular appeals for unrestricted high speeds on motorways being a good idea.
Also, it should be noted that the air force uses very remote areas for military aircraft training, such as Dartmoor and Brecon Beacons. It is then to my mind all the more outrageous that an authority welcomes fast jets flying low level over or near our towns.
I am sorry to write this but we should all remember August 2011, not only the tragic loss of a young pilot but also that crash was a near miss, less than a few hundred yards from houses in Throop.
We have had our warning. Local authorities now need to act. As others are saying in the Echo today, no more jet displays flying over the towns.
SIMON CHESTER
Christchurch Road Bournemouth
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