However if there is any truth that they declined to participate in a Shoreham display for the implied safety reasons then this may well have serious implications for all concerned with the Shoreham event.
The Red Arrows have refused to comment on speculation why they would not perform there.
On another forum, someone said they'd been banned for frightening sheep. This may well also be inaccurate.
I'm no expert, but their routines do tend to consist of rather large-scale manoeuvres compared to others, and the airspace volume available at Shoreham is limited by parts of the London TMA nearby and overhead, and the higher ground of the South Downs just to the north.
And indeed it has been said in the past by someone on behalf of the airshow that they can't perform there due to the proximity of Lancing and Worthing and airspace.
The fact that they won't fly low over these towns while changing formation doesn't make it dangerous for other aircraft flying singly to do routines that remain much closer to the airfield.