It doesn’t look as though anyone will throw the Maidstone River Festival a lifeline any time soon.

Maidstone council’s Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee considered whether the borough should step in to re-instate the festival which last ran fully two years ago - although boat owners have continued to gather in the town each year despite there being no “official” event.

The first festival was in 1980, run by a committee of volunteers from agencies across the town. But from 2008, Kent Police started to levy a charge for policing the festival and the organisers found it more and more difficult each year to find sponsors to cover the rising costs.

Maidstone council was increasingly called upon to give financial support and in 2013, spent £25,972 on it.

Cllr Dave Naghi (Lib Dem) was keen to see the festival restored - this time entirely under the wing of the borough council. He said it could become the town’s signature event as part of a month-long culture month, linking in with existing occasions such as the Leeds Castle concert and Headcorn Aerodrome show.

He pointed out that the last festival had brought 20,000 visitors to the town centre.

But the council’ head of commercial and economic development, Dawn Hudd, advised against it, saying that she estimated the festival would cost the council £75,000 to £100,000 to lay on. She said there was anecdotal evidence that the town’s traders did not even think their business improved as a result of visitors to the festival.

Cllr Annabelle Blackmore (Con) was also strongly against. She said it had always been difficult for the police to control, with alcohol and drug problems, and a big clean-up operation necessary afterwards.

She said: “I cannot see how this is viable at all.”

Cllr Gordon Newton (Ind) queried where Mrs Hudd had got her £100,000 cost figure from. He said he was involved in running Rochester’s annual Sweeps Festival and that didn’t cost anything like that amount to put on.

Cllr Fran Wilson (Lib Dem) said Maidstone was lacking an event that defined the town. She said: “We are the county town, but we don’t seem to know who we are.”

She suggested that the council’s Destination Management Plan committee be asked to consider the River Festival as part of its overview of the town’s tourist offering.

Her suggestion was agreed by the committee, but Cllr Wendy Hinder (Con) seemed to voice the view of many.

She said: “I couldn’t possibly support any plans to re-instate the River Festival. That’s just not what we want for Maidstone.”

Maidstone council currently supports two events: Proms in the Park, which cost £14,000 last time, and the Maidstone Mela, which cost £15,500.