Birdman chief quits over move

12:14pm Saturday 17th May 2008

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The chairman of the Bognor International Birdman competition is to quit because of the event's move to Worthing.

Barry Jones said he felt not enough had been done to keep the competition in Bognor in its 30th anniversary year.

Mr Jones, who is also the competition's treasurer and secretary, has been involved with the Birdman since it was taken over from Arun District Council in 2004, He said he was frustrated that the event had been allowed to leave the town with so little fight to keep it.

Worthing stumped up the £25,000 needed to stage the event over the weekend of July 5 and 6, where flyers will take off from the town's pier.

But Brighton Pier had also shown an interest in taking the Birdman under its wing.

The move came after Bognor's crumbling pier had to be reduced by 79ft, leaving the water level on entry at around 12ft, giving rise to health and safety fears.

But Mr Jones said that depth would have been more than enough for competitors to plunge into and felt that more should have been done to properly assess the risk.

But he said that felt the decision to move the competition had been taken too quickly and without proper consultation over the health and safety of the participants.

Mr Jones said: "There's no sense carrying on as chairman because I'm not being listened to.

"We've got a few things to carry on with and sort out but then I'll leave.

"There were ways we could have continued but no-one would listen to me.

"I've had a very good committee who have worked extremely hard with me.

"I'm not complaining about any of them at all. They acted how they thought was right but my opinion was different.

"I hope I am proved wrong."

Bognor town and district councillor Jim Brooks, also a Birdman volunteer, said Mr Jones' departure was a sad loss but remained confident that the competition would return to the town.

He said: "Barry is a great guy and without him the event would not have kept going.

"He has been a pillar in the competition but no-one is bigger than the event and someone will step in and take over.

"I'm gutted that the Birdman is moving from Bognor but I'm also delighted that it is able to go ahead this year.

"Obviously Worthing are keen to keep it, I would imagine, and they probably will for the next two or three years but I think that Bognor is the natural arena for the event and it will return home.

"If we can extend the pier and put a purpose-built ramp on the end of it then the Birdman can continue for many years to come."