Air disaster tributes fall foul of red tape

FAMILIES of the Shoreham air disaster victims have criticised a council after being told remembrance ribbons near the scene of the crash will be removed to protect the local environment.

A toll bridge overlooking the scene of the crash, where a 1950s Hawker Hunter jet killed 11 people on the A27 in August, was covered with thousands of flowers, but they were removed by West Sussex County Council.

Family and friends of the victims then put up ribbons and a banner reading “The Bridge Of Flowers – Nev- er Forget” but the council has now said they will need to come down too due to “environmental concerns”.

Tanya Hewstone, 21, whose partner, Daniele Polito, 23, died in the crash, said her young son liked coming to the colourful bridge to pay his respects.

She told BBC South East Today: “He hasn’t got a lot to remember his dad by and when we arrived he said it’s a pretty bridge. That is what he’s got. This is where he comes to remember his dad.”

The approximately 7,000 ribbons were tied on the bridge before the fu- neral of crash victim Matt Jones, a 24year-old personal trainer. His friend Shellee Spooner said: “The funeral was only held Friday just gone. It’s very insensitive to get the rulebook out and the red tape.”

Louise Goldsmith, leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “We are listening to the friends and families about this extremely sensitive issue and would like to meet them to discuss a way forward.

“The ribbon display will not come down before that meeting.”