One of Maidstone’s “most popular” music events is set to be axed after council officers concluded they could not justify a 185% hike in ticket prices.

Proms in the Park – which takes place in Whatman Park – was due to receive £5,000 from Maidstone Borough Council next year (compared to £14,000 in 2017), before losing all public funding in 2020.

Ticket prices were introduced for the first time this year, but officials suggest the entrance fee would have to increase by 185% in 2019 (from £7 to £20) to make the event sustainable.

In a press release issued by the authority in April, Proms in the Park is described as “one of Maidstone’s most popular annual events” with“musical celebrations on a glorious spring day”.

A survey conducted in 2016 suggested residents would be unhappy to pay more than £10 to attend.

Council papers, due to be debated next Tuesday (October 30), read: “Events have a life cycle and it could be an appropriate time to discontinue Proms in the Park.

“Attendee numbers are falling, costs are rising, (and) Whatman Park is a challenging venue due to a lack of access for temporary toilets and lack of parking.

“The remaining £5,000 budget in 2019 could be used to pump (into) a new event or events such as a programme of music on the bandstand in Brenchley Gardens, or events in Jubilee Square.”

Other ways of funding the event have been explored in the past, but sponsors have not been interested partly due to the number of people attending.

Less than 600 adult tickets were sold in 2018, while 300 children attended for free.

The council report adds: “In previous years, the audience has been estimated between 1,200 and 2,000.

“The variation each year is a result of a variety of factors including weather at the time and changes to the programme including no longer having fireworks at the finale.”

Members of Maidstone Borough Council’s heritage, culture and leisure committee are recommended to support the cancelling of the event next week.

Parkwood Leisure, which provided the event management as part of its contract to operate the Hazlitt Theatre, will have to support another event to meet its obligations.