UK coastguard stations to be cut by more than half
Sea King helicopters could be scrapped if proposals to privatise the service they provide are confirmed.
Coastguard service providers have been shocked by the UK Government’s decision to slash the country’s coastguard stations from 18 to just three operational full time.
The round the clock stations will be at Aberdeen, Dover and Southampton/Portsmouth, with a further five ‘daylight only’ stations surviving at Swansea, Falmouth, Humber, either Belfast or Liverpool, and either Stornoway or Shetland. A small station on the River Thames in London will also remain.
UK Shipping Minister Mike Penning said the full time centres would be ‘maritime operations centres capable of managing maritime incidents wherever they occur’, while the sub-centres would be ‘fully integrated into the national network around the coast and operating during daylight hours’.
The Department for Transport is required to cut its spending by 15% over the next four years as an outcome of the recent Comprehensive Spending Review. It is also considering selling the operation of the country’s ageing search and rescue helicopter fleet to a French/American consortium but that decision was postponed on Thursday due to a ‘possible issue’.
It has been reported that the consortium would take on the £3bn cost of procuring new helicopters, along with a 25 year contract to operate them valued at over £6bn. The helicopter service is currently provided by the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy, and by private helicopters through the MCA.
Launching a 14 week period of consultation on the proposals, Mike Penning said they would ‘strengthen the Coastguard service by dealing with potential points of weakness in current structures and adding resilience throughout the system while also maintaining strong regional links and enhancing frontline rescue services through the volunteer Coastguard.’
That view will not be shared in all quarters. Welsh Assembly Member Peter Black was among those claiming lives could be lost if one or more of Wales’ three main coastguard stations were closed. He told the BBC, ‘My concern is that Mumbles coastguard station, which is a major station for the Bristol Channel and the whole of South Wales, could be lost. There would be impact in terms of employment and an impact in terms of safety for people in the South Wales area. It could lead to lives being lost. This is an emergency service and we need to continue to invest in that service.’
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