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.
replica Air Jordan 12 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 Pounds 60,000 bond requested by NELC on top of the Pounds 20,000 asking price in three days, Mr Johnson cancelled the deal.
2010-NBA-All-Star 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.
Link Paddle Steamers Preservation Society INSHORT The agent who was hired to sell the Lincoln Castle has said the owner and the local council repeatedly Swiss Replica Glashutte Watches stalled investors' attempts to buy it.
The Lincoln Castle's demise JUNE 20: The Mail reports on campaigners who are battling to bring the ferry back to Hull, including the new Lincoln Castle Preservation Society.
July 2: It is revealed contractors have been hired by the ferry's owner to begin dismantling the vessel.
July 3: The owner of the ferry tells the Mail there is no chance of saving her.
July 5: Campaigners vow not to give up hope of saving the ferry.
July 7: The national Paddle Steamers Preservation Society steps in to help the campaign.
Other articles:
http://www.zjxkc.com/Credit-card-fraudsters-jail-w.html...