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| UK coastguard station closure plans 'scaled back' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The government will drop some planned closures of coastguard stations around the country, the BBC understands. | The government will drop some planned closures of coastguard stations around the country, the BBC understands. |
| They are expected to press ahead with shutting some, but it is not known which will stay and which will close. | They are expected to press ahead with shutting some, but it is not known which will stay and which will close. |
| Ministers have extended a consultation on the plans, to allow the Commons transport committee time to complete their assessment of the proposals. | Ministers have extended a consultation on the plans, to allow the Commons transport committee time to complete their assessment of the proposals. |
| The plans are to have one or two large coastguard centres and fewer smaller stations around the country. | The plans are to have one or two large coastguard centres and fewer smaller stations around the country. |
| Earlier, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC he was re-examining plans to cut the number of coastguard stations from 18 to 5. | Earlier, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond told the BBC he was re-examining plans to cut the number of coastguard stations from 18 to 5. |
| "We are looking again at the best configuration that will allow us to deliver those technological improvements, those working practice improvements and we will announce our conclusions to Parliament before the summer recess," he said. | "We are looking again at the best configuration that will allow us to deliver those technological improvements, those working practice improvements and we will announce our conclusions to Parliament before the summer recess," he said. |
| "It's not about a U-turn, it's about deciding how best to implement what will be a very a big change in how the coastguard operates." | "It's not about a U-turn, it's about deciding how best to implement what will be a very a big change in how the coastguard operates." |
| Mr Hammond's comments come as MPs from the Commons Transport Select Committee are in Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, to take evidence on proposals to reduce Scotland's five coastguard stations to one in Aberdeen. | |
| Either Shetland or Stornoway would close, with the surviving one manned on a part-time basis. | |
| The main coastguard centres are at: Aberdeen, Belfast, Brixham, Clyde, Dover, Falmouth, Forth, Holyhead, Humber, Liverpool, London Coastguard, Milford Haven, Portland, Shetland, Solent, Stornoway, Swansea, Yarmouth and the Thames. |