5:00pm Sunday 17th February 2013
By James Dwan
CLACTON air show has already attracted thousands of pounds extra from traders following the demise of Southend and Lowestoft air shows, organisers have said.
Tendring tourism boss Alan Goggin said the cancellations meant this year’s event could be big business for Clacton.
He said bookings for the trade areas on West Greensward are already up by £4,000.
He said: “The reason we have decided to go ahead is we believe it’s a real benefit to residents and businesses of the district.
“We are already £4,000 up on trade bookings than what we had at this stage last year.
“I hope the cancellation of the Southend event and the Lowestoft event will mean people will view this as the only decent-sized free air show on the eastern coast.”
It is thought that as many as an extra 10,000 people could attend the event on August 22 and 23, which usually attracts 120,000 people.
Mr Goggin said he will ask residents do to contribute £1 to a collection, although the event will be free to attend.
Despite being the only free air show on the east coast, Mr Goggin said organisers would not book too many headline acts.
“We are trying not to be too ambitious – I believe that’s what happened at Southend and Lowesoft,” he said.
Tendring Council previously said it would continue to fund the air show, which cost taxpayers £20,000 to stage, as it attracts almost £4million to the district.
It hopes to be able to raise enough cash to put the event on at no cost to the taxpayer.
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