howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
courtesy of the independent.
Government plans to cut back on coastguard centres raise serious safety concerns and should be withdrawn, a report by MPs said today.
Under Government proposals the number of coastguard centres open 24 hours a day will be reduced from 18 to three.
the House of Commons Transport Committee said the evidence it had received during its inquiry raised "serious concerns that safety will be jeopardised if these proposals proceed".
The committee also said the decision to withdraw funding for emergency towing vessels - large tugs that intercept disabled ships to prevent pollution - was "unwise and short-sighted" and was "inviting disaster".
Launching the report the committee's chairman Louise Ellman said the coastguard proposals were "seriously flawed" and there was little support for them.
She also expressed her disappointment that shipping minister Mike Penning had "instructed regular coastguards not to give evidence to the committee".
Under the Government proposals the three 24-hour centres would be at Aberdeen, the Southampton/Portsmouth area and Dover.
There would be five sub-centres open during daylight hours - at Swansea, Falmouth in Cornwall, Bridlington in East Yorkshire, Belfast or Liverpool, and Stornoway or Shetland
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
I heard a piece on the Today programme early today on this. I didnt catch the opening bit but I think it was Louise Ellman herself on there, she said they interviewed people up and down the country on this and didnt find any support for it whatsoever. The interviewer said..what none at all, and she answered...no none at all. I expect there may well be another u-turn coming.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
they will have no choice but to climb down on this one, what bothers me is the action of the shipping minister gagging the coastguards.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
what not another gagging order.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
they would never do that brian, how cynical of you.
would be interesting to read the views of our maritime guru "ed" on this one.
their is a view that technology covers all eventualities and emergencies, i do not subscribe to that as each stretch of coastline is personed by coastguards with local knowledge of sea conditions and related issues.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
howard,me cynical never.
just speak as i find.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Cutting from 18 to 3 sounds a bit deep.
Roger
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
down to the government money saving scheme.
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
until they have the first oil leak in the water streets and then have a big public outcry!!!!
Seems really stupid in my opinion, whoever decided and agreed to it never had any issues in their own little dreaming bubble world... What the heck is going on in their Minds????? I do wonder ...
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
sorry heike i think you could be on the wrong thread.