Future of King's Lynn historic ferry in doubt despite buyer coming forward

The future of Lynn’s historic ferry is in doubt after a would-be buyer was told he could not apply for EU funding because West Lynn is not a village.

Former fisherman Ben Ellis has been in negotiations with owners Steve and Gail Kingston, for months and has already secured half the finance needed to buy the business.

But hopes that he could gain financial help through the Norfolk County Council managed LEADER fund, which provides European cash to help small businesses were dashed when he was told West Lynn is considered part of urban Lynn and therefore is not rural.

LEADER funding is available as a part of the Rural Development Programme (RDPE) and provides grants of between £2,500 and £170,000 to cover 40 percent of total project costs.

On the surface West Lynn Ferry appears to tick all the boxes for the programme’s aims, which include promoting rural tourism, rural services, and cultural and heritage activity.

But in a response from Norfolk County Council’s economic programmes team local councillor Alexandra Kemp, who has been trying to help Mr Ellis secure the funding, was told West Lynn has been included in the urban area of Lynn by Defra (Department for environment, food and rural affairs) and it is their map which is used to determine an application’s eligibility.

Miss Kemp said: “It seems totally illogical. West Lynn is definitely rural but as part of a ward with South Lynn is considered urban, despite being on the opposite side of the river.

“I think we need to take this up with the local MP to press Defra to change its map. The ferry provides a vital service to people living in West Lynn and the rural villages like Terrington St Clement. It helps with town centre congestion as well as having a long heritage going back 800 years.

“Finding someone qualified to operate the ferry is difficult and we have Mr Ellis, who is qualified and wants to take it on, but is struggling to find the finances.”

Mr Ellis said: “I would love to take over the ferry. I have worked as a boat fisherman in the past, so I know about operating boats. I have also helped with the ferry when I was a teenager, so I know about the river.

“I would love to keep the ferry running and to have the business to hand on to my three sons. My eldest son, Tyler, who is 14 has no idea what he wants to do when he leaves school, but he is keen on the idea of helping with the ferry.”

Mr Ellis said: “I read about the LEADER fund in the local village pamphlet and thought that would be ideal, but now I have been told West Lynn is not rural - that is just ridiculous and I feel so frustrated.”

West Norfolk Council leader Brian Long said he had looked into the council buying the ferry business, but was told the authority could not invest in a commercial activity.

However, he has made a commitment to continuing the council’s subsidy to the service when the Kingstons finally give up the business.

Mr Kingston has made no secret of his desire to retire after running the ferry six days a week for the past 18 years and had hoped to go before this winter.

He and Mrs Kingston have already reduced the asking price from £100,000 to £65,000 in the hope of attracting a buyer but only Mr Ellis has shown serious interest.

They feel equally frustrated at the lack of support to Mr Ellis in keeping the 800 year-old ferry operating and Mrs Kingston said they were close to “locking the gates” and walking away from the business and just selling their custom made boats.

She said: “We have kept the service operating in every kind of weather, all through last winter when the roads were blocked by snow and the trains weren’t running, we kept going. But Steve has had enough and wants to retire.

“We would hate to see the ferry service end, but we can’t go on for ever.”

Norfolk County Council says the designation of West Lynn had been fixed for the duration of the programme by Defra and could not be reversed while the scheme, which runs until 2020, is running.

A spokesman said: “The Lynn Ferry project may be eligible for other sources of funding and we have signposted them to sources of advice and information on possible funding opportunities, as well as offering the services of our external funding team to find suitable sources of support.”