VOLUNTEERS working to bring Teignmouth its second air show have vowed to plough on despite being turned down for a £10,000 grant.

The committee had applied for the funding from Teignmouth town council but it is understood the bid was rejected over environmental concerns.

Disappointed air show chairman and former Mayor of Teignmouth Dave Matthews said: ‘We are going to make it work and continue moving forward with the rest of our fund raising.

‘It is hard for me as I am a town councillor as well but we are a small group of just five volunteers and we want to put Teignmouth on the map.

‘It’s a free event which we run over two days and brings people into the town. ‘We do it all for the town.’

It is estimated up to 40,000 people attended the first air show in 2019.

Since then, Covid restrictions meant the following two years had to be cancelled, which was particularly disappointing for the show’s volunteers as the town had been chosen, for the first time, as a display location for the iconic Red Arrows in 2021.

The show needs up to £50,000 alone just to cover the cost of the aircraft for which bids to the RAF and Royal Navy have been submitted.

Included again this year is a bid for the Red Arrows which cost up to £17,000.

Fundraising has been ongoing for the whole event which is expected to cost £75,000.

There was a small profit from the 2019 show but this is less than half the amount needed for the aircraft.

Mr Matthews warned unless the money for the aircraft is ‘in the bank’, the air show can’t happen.

He pointed out that the neighbouring Torbay Air Show is entirely paid for by Torbay Council which brings in an outside company to run the event.

He also described how he invested £15,000 out of his own pocket to buy a marquee and bar equipment.

Long term it was more cost effective to pay for the equipment and infrastructure rather than to hire it every year.

Mr Matthews added: ‘I never received a penny back.’

He also paid for equipment to make their own road signs and hi vis jackets to keep costs down.

If funds cannot be raised to cover the aircraft costs, he said, whatever happens, there will still be a family fun event and music festival with the aim of putting money raised towards a 2023 show.

But Mr Matthews said the whole committee is ‘determined’ to make sure the show goes ahead.

In response to concerns over environmental effects, he explained measures were already in place with reusable cups and enhanced recycling of any waste such as cardboard, glass and plastic.

The bar is made from recycled pallets.

An announcement is expected later this month which aircraft Teignmouth has been allocated and then the committee has until March to secure the funding.

Supporters can sign up on the air show website to become a friend of the show for an annual fee for which they receive exclusive updates.

Anyone who wants to volunteer or offer sponsorship can contact [email protected]