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Milford, Holyhead coastguard campaigns back MPs' report | Milford, Holyhead coastguard campaigns back MPs' report |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Campaigners fighting the closure of two Welsh coastguard stations are urging UK ministers to accept an MPs' report saying the plan should be dropped. | Campaigners fighting the closure of two Welsh coastguard stations are urging UK ministers to accept an MPs' report saying the plan should be dropped. |
The Commons Transport Committee said its inquiry raised big safety concerns. | The Commons Transport Committee said its inquiry raised big safety concerns. |
Under the plans, Milford Haven and Holyhead stations would be among those across the UK to close and Swansea would become part-time. | Under the plans, Milford Haven and Holyhead stations would be among those across the UK to close and Swansea would become part-time. |
UK Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has said the plans do not affect safety. | UK Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has said the plans do not affect safety. |
But Dennis O'Connor of the Save Milford Campaign said changing course would not be a U-turn, but a decision based on common sense. | But Dennis O'Connor of the Save Milford Campaign said changing course would not be a U-turn, but a decision based on common sense. |
Under the proposals the number of coastguard centres open 24 hours a day in the UK would be reduced from 18 to three. | Under the proposals the number of coastguard centres open 24 hours a day in the UK would be reduced from 18 to three. |
They would be at Aberdeen, in the Southampton and Portsmouth area and at Dover. | They would be at Aberdeen, in the Southampton and Portsmouth area and at Dover. |
The five sub-centres open during daylight hours would be at Swansea, Falmouth in Cornwall, Bridlington in East Yorkshire, Belfast or Liverpool, and Stornoway or Shetland. | The five sub-centres open during daylight hours would be at Swansea, Falmouth in Cornwall, Bridlington in East Yorkshire, Belfast or Liverpool, and Stornoway or Shetland. |
There have been protests at both Milford Haven and Holyhead over the proposals, with campaigners claiming a loss of local knowledge could delay rescues and risk lives. | There have been protests at both Milford Haven and Holyhead over the proposals, with campaigners claiming a loss of local knowledge could delay rescues and risk lives. |
Mr O'Connor, who gave evidence to the committee of MPs, said he was hopeful the Milford campaign had done enough to secure the 24-hour future of the station. | Mr O'Connor, who gave evidence to the committee of MPs, said he was hopeful the Milford campaign had done enough to secure the 24-hour future of the station. |
"One of the things we've campaigned for is for the plans to be scrapped entirely and for the government to start again with a blank sheet of paper," he said. | "One of the things we've campaigned for is for the plans to be scrapped entirely and for the government to start again with a blank sheet of paper," he said. |
"It's been said repeatedly the status quo is not an option and I think that's been accepted to a point, but they should not make changes for the sake of change. | "It's been said repeatedly the status quo is not an option and I think that's been accepted to a point, but they should not make changes for the sake of change. |
"[If the report is accepted] it should not be viewed as a U-turn but it should be viewed as a common sense decision." | "[If the report is accepted] it should not be viewed as a U-turn but it should be viewed as a common sense decision." |
Joe Lock, who organised protests in Holyhead, said he welcomed the committee's report. | |
'Flawed, dangerous' | 'Flawed, dangerous' |
"All the way through this we were saying the proposals were flawed, dangerous and ultimately would risk lives," he added. | "All the way through this we were saying the proposals were flawed, dangerous and ultimately would risk lives," he added. |
He called on the government to scrap its plans and urged widespread consultation with coastguards and the communities where stations were based before any new plans were put forward. | He called on the government to scrap its plans and urged widespread consultation with coastguards and the communities where stations were based before any new plans were put forward. |
"We would all like to see modernisation of the coastguards but it should not be a money saving exercise," he added. | "We would all like to see modernisation of the coastguards but it should not be a money saving exercise," he added. |
Launching the transport committee's report, chair Louise Ellman said the proposals were "seriously flawed" with little support. | Launching the transport committee's report, chair Louise Ellman said the proposals were "seriously flawed" with little support. |
"We accept there is a need for some modernisation," she said. | "We accept there is a need for some modernisation," she said. |
"While there is a case for reducing the total number of rescue co-ordination centres, any future reorganisation of the coastguard should be based on 24-hour centres, as they are now, and not on stations open only during daylight hours, as the government proposes." | "While there is a case for reducing the total number of rescue co-ordination centres, any future reorganisation of the coastguard should be based on 24-hour centres, as they are now, and not on stations open only during daylight hours, as the government proposes." |
Mr Hammond said during the consultation process the government had received "a large number of high-quality responses" and it would publish its proposals later in the summer. | Mr Hammond said during the consultation process the government had received "a large number of high-quality responses" and it would publish its proposals later in the summer. |
"The original proposals do not compromise safety and include increased resources for frontline rescue services," he added. | "The original proposals do not compromise safety and include increased resources for frontline rescue services," he added. |
"Reform will improve resilience in the system through improvements to IT and create better career opportunities for staff, as well as better pay and conditions. | "Reform will improve resilience in the system through improvements to IT and create better career opportunities for staff, as well as better pay and conditions. |
"As the committee says, the need for reform is not in question. I am confident that through this genuine consultation process we will deliver the right solution." | "As the committee says, the need for reform is not in question. I am confident that through this genuine consultation process we will deliver the right solution." |
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