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Would-be-buyer needs help to run King's Lynn Ferry service




The former fisherman who is attempting to buy Lynn’s historic ferry has launched a fundraising appeal to raise much-needed cash.

Ben Ellis has been in negotiations with current owners Steve and Gail Kingston about taking over their businesses before this winter, to give them the freedom to retire after 18-years.

The would-be-buyer has previously been told he could not apply for EU funding under Norfolk County Council’s LEADER fund because West Lynn is not a village.

This fund provides European cash to help small businesses and is available as part of the Rural Development Programme (RDPE), offering grants between £2,500 and £170,000 to cover 40 percent of a project’s total cost.

Although the ferry service appears meet the programme’s requirements, West Lynn has been considered part of urban Lynn and therefore is not rural.

Mr Ellis said: “The historic West Lynn Ferry is in danger. The present owners cannot run it for another winter and need to sell the business or shut down and sell their boats.

“If that happens we may not be able to start a new ferry for years, if ever. I’m ready to take over but need your help.

“I am speaking to investors, but taking too much money in loans or giving away too great a share will be a burden on the ferry in future.

“We’d like to make the ferry a thriving family business, keep it nice and tidy and look ahead to opening a café and making passengers as comfortable as possible.”

Current owners Steve and Gail Kingston, who have already reduced the asking price from £100,000 to £65,000, have been running the service six-days a week for the past 18-years.

Mrs Kingston said: “We would hate to see the ferry service end, but we can’t go on forever.”

To support Mr Ellis’ fundraising campaign, visit his Crowdfunder via https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/the-historic-west-lynn-ferry/?



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