Three last-minute donations have saved this year’s Herne Bay Rocks finale show.

KentOnline revealed last week that organiser David Shepherd had decided to shelve the event, after the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) told him to triple paramedic and ambulance cover at the show. That would have pushed medical costs to about £1,000 for the day.

But he says, following last week’s announcement, he was approached by bosses from Shepherd Neame, accounts firm PG Lemon and the Divers Arms who have pledged to foot the bill for the additional medical cover.

“I was approached by someone from Shepherd Neame who asked how much money I needed to make it happen,” Mr Shepherd said. “I told him and he said, ‘if that will mean the event will go ahead, we will pay for that’.

“We’re approaching the deadline to apply for the event. It could go ahead if we get assurances from the council there won’t be any more obstacles.”

The show also encountered financial difficulties last year and was rescued by an eleventh-hour donation of £5,000.

Following the Mr Shepherd’s recent difficulties, Gerald McCarthy from the BayPromoTeam has warned other events could be threatened if demands for emergency cover are not softened.

“The big sticking point is the authority the Secamb and NHS element of the SAG,” he said.

“Myself and other organisers are concerned with the pressure being put on us.

“It’s unfair pressure and this has to be reviewed.”

Mr McCarthy says organisers secure the added medical cover by forking out for private doctors and nurses to be stationed at the events.

He added: “SAG should look at the event’s history and support it, rather than insist on costs that could kill it.”

Mr McCarthy will hold a meeting with other events organisers and the local authority to discuss the issues later this year.

A spokesman for SAG said: “Should the worst happen and a major incident occurs, organisers would be grateful to have gone through the SAG process and made sure they had prepared in the best way possible.”

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