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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK coastguard station closure plans 'scaled back' | UK coastguard station closure plans 'scaled back' |
| (about 1 hour 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. |
| It is expected to press ahead with shutting some, but it is not yet 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 its 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 after newspaper reports had said the government was making a U-turn on the proposals. | |
| "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 committee are in Stornoway, in the Outer Hebrides, to take evidence on proposals to reduce Scotland's five coastguard stations to one in Aberdeen. | |
| Under the proposals being consulted on, either Shetland or Stornoway would close, with the surviving one manned on a part-time basis. | |
| South East Cornwall MP Sheryll Murray lost her husband Neil at sea and has campaigned against coastguard closures. | |
| 'Best in the world' | |
| She told the BBC: "I fully understand that it doesn't matter whether we have the existing coastguard service or not, it wouldn't have saved Neil. | |
| "But the experience of being able to speak to a local person, who was completely familiar with the situation that I was in, was very comforting and I don't think that I would have received the same sort of communication if we had had one central coastguard service. | |
| "These men are absolutely brilliant and we have to make sure they have the equipment to ensure that they can continue to provide the best service in the world. | |
| "I hope that the minister will make sure that we keep our coastguard stations open and that's every one of them on a 24/7 basis." | |
| Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Mark Serwotka said the "climbdown" was evidence of what can be achieved by community campaigning. | |
| He said: "This is a body blow for the government, which is reeling from the force of public outrage at ill-thought-out plans to slash the life-saving support that coastguards provide. | |
| "It is not yet clear what any new proposals will include and there are still battles to be won to maintain vital local services that our members provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We would expect new plans to be subject to proper consultation and negotiation." |