A west Norfolk business has branched out after carrying out a tree removal scheme with a new boat funded with support from New Anglia Growth Hub.
Sam Coates of SCS East Anglia, based at Manor Farm, near King’s Lynn, has named the boat Lady Penelope after his daughter on receiving a grant of £31,250 from the Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund. The grant was delivered by Norfolk County Council on behalf of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk.
“This grant enabled the business to purchase a new boat, and this has had an immediate effect with new business generation,” commented Sam, who was supported with his application by New Anglia Growth Hub and the county council’s Programmes team.
Businesses across the district were invited to bring forward capital investment projects that would have a significant impact on their business and local communities. Grants of between £10,000 and £100,000 were available and the maximum intervention was 50% of eligible capital costs, up to a maximum value of £100,000.
The successful project involved a Public Safety Risk Assessment for the removal of trees. Each year, trees on Environment Agency sites are assessed as to whether they are a hazard to the public. Trees deemed unsafe are then reduced or removed completely.
Where these trees are in Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSIs) it causes a whole host of issues, and in this instance, they could only be accessed by boat or pontoon. So, the project sought to purchase a specialist river boat.
Not only did the vessel allow the work to be carried out more efficiently and safely, but it has also led to further opportunities, such as the removal of invasive seaweed in a Natural England project in Budle Bay, Northumberland.
Business adviser Anthony Goggin was able to support Sam’s application from beginning to end. He said: “It was a pleasure to work on this novel project with Sam and see its wider business impact on the local economy and the wider environment. Every day is a ‘school day’ and from this project I learnt that boats are sold in 64 equal parts or shares – an ancient measure still used today.”
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