A month-long event that draws thousands of people to the seaside every year to see live music, workshops, exhibitions, car shows and competitions has been cancelled.

Organisers of the Herne Bay Festival have confirmed that this year’s programme - which was scheduled to run throughout August – has been scrapped as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking on behalf of the group, David Shepherd says the decision was influenced in part by Canterbury City Council’s decision to channel the £30,000 usually afforded to events towards fighting the illness.

He explained: “There are several reasons behind our decision; financial, practical and of course responsibility to the health and wellbeing of the public.

“As Canterbury City Council is faced with providing unprecedented support to essential services to help alleviate the effects of the pandemic, the grant funding due to go towards the festival has been, quite rightly, reallocated to much more vital services.

“Whilst individual event organisers are very good at acquiring sponsorship from local businesses and individuals, the grant funding would still be vital to make the festival as a whole financially viable.”

Mr Shepherd adds that the organisers will continue to monitor the situation and, if it becomes safe to do so, arrange an event at short notice in August.

This year’s programme was expected to include regular favourites, such as the cartoon and jazz and swing festivals and the carnival.

The entertainment would have been brought to a close by a firework display over Neptune’s Arm as part of the Herne Bay Rocks finale on August 29.

Mr Shepherd continued: “In terms of the time required to organise some of the events, planning would have to start very soon, if not already.

“And with the uncertainty of how long this pandemic will take to recede it would not be practical or sensible to try to plan events without knowing any timescales to work with.

“But most importantly our first priority is the health, wellbeing, and safety of the public and whilst there is currently a ban on social gatherings it would be completely irresponsible of us not to follow the current advice.”

The event was rebadged the Herne Bay Festival, having previously been called Bayfest, after an independent charity was formed to take over the reins.

Its trustees, all of whom helped to organise it before, believe the move will enable them to apply for funding from a wider range of trusts and foundations, and, in turn, allow them to hold more events.

"Because councils are heavily stretched at the best of times, the plan was this year was going to be the last we'd get funding from the council," Mr Shepherd added.

"Our aim is to raise what the council used to give us.

"Hopefully this will give us greater independence and we will do our best to put on the show the people of the town deserve."

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