Eleventh-hour plans to hold a scaled down Hastings Beer and Music Festival this summer are being discussed.
The Observer revealed two weeks ago that the 2008 Alexandra Park event had been cancelled for the first time in the festival's 26-year history due to last year's losses, high running costs and problems in securing high profile bands.
However, org
anisers from Hastings and Battle Round Tables are now re-thinking the cancellation following a show of support from festival fans.
More than 1,330 people have signed up to a group called Save the Hastings Beer Festival! set up on social networking site Facebook.
On Monday, round table representatives put forward revised plans for a smaller scale 2008 event before police, licensing officers, health and safety officials and fire service chiefs at a multi-agency meeting.
Tim Pilbeam, of Battle Round Table, said the new proposal includes a giant big top marquee in case of poor weather and an emphasis on established local bands playing to crowds up to 3,000 people per night
He added: "It is late in the day to put this forward and there are some slight technicalities surrounding issues such as crowd safety, health and safety, and we cannot go ahead unless all agencies are 100 per cent happy despite the downsized event.
"It turns out this size event still needs subtantial infrastructure and security, which have high costs and may prove uneconomical unless we get the support of the public and sponsors from the business community.
"The festival must be viable and worthwhile, as our object is to raise money for local causes"A final decision on the festival is due by Monday (May 19).
Potential sponsors or suggestions should be e-mailed to info@hbmf.co.uk, or visit www.hbmf.co.uk to comment on plans for the festival.
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