INVESTORS’ attempts to save the Lincoln Castle were repeatedly stalled by its owner and the local council, it has been claimed.
Speaking exclusively to the Mail, the agent who was tasked with selling the former Humber ferry claimed five different people were “seriously interested” in buying the boat.
But Bob Shore claimed that owner Colin Johnson refused several of their attempts to buy the vessel, which is berthed in Grimsby.
He also claimed North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) could have saved the ship, as a clause in its licence meant the authority would be offered the chance to buy the boat before anyone else.
His comments come after businessman Stephen Caunter made a public appeal to Mr Johnson to allow him to buy the boat.
Mr Caunter claimed when he was unable to raise the £60,000 bond requested by NELC on top of the £20,000 asking price in three days, Mr Johnson cancelled the deal.
Mr Caunter then offered the money directly to NELC for the authority to purchase the vessel and sell it on to Mr Caunter – a deal the council refused.
Mr Shore, who was instructed to advertise the boat in July last year, said: “The responsibility for this outcome lies fairly and squarely with North East Lincolnshire Council for not taking the option to buy the boat.
“They had decided it would be a risk to ratepayers and that they wouldn’t be able to take that chance, but Stephen came up with a solution to that problem and they still refused.”
Mr Caunter, a businessman specialising in restoration and maintenance, planned to buy and restore the boat.
He said: “I just fell in love with it, but the owner did not seem to want to do the deal.
“It wouldn’t be to anyone’s advantage to scrap it. I strongly urge Mr Johnson to reconsider my offer to buy it.”
A spokesperson for NELC said: “In the current climate of public spending cuts, it would not be right for the local authority to burden council taxpayers with the bill for the Lincoln Castle.”
Mr Johnson’s brother Peter, who is speaking on his behalf, did not respond to a request for a comment from the Mail.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 09:001 comment
FINAL 18 HOLES TO GO… Lining up for their final round at Immingham Golf Club are (from left) Rob Spreckley, Andy Clennett, Dean Martin, Gaz Kerr, Mo Stringfellow, Lee Burniston, Carl Chambers, Ian Oliver, Chris Woods and Neil Wood.
