By Richard Johnstone | 15 July 2011
The government has scaled back controversial plans to close most UK coastguard stations at night.
The Department for Transport outlined plans last December to reduce the number of maritime operations centres from 18 to 8, with only 3 remaining open 24 hours a day.
However, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond announced yesterday that seven more coastguard stations would remain open round the clock after the Commons’ transport select committee raised ‘serious concerns’ about the impact on safety.
The consultation on the plans had raised worries ‘over a potential loss of local knowledge’ from the service, Hammond said.
The original plans were for two 24-hour Maritime Operations Centre in the Southampton/Portsmouth area and Aberdeen, with a smaller centre in Dover, along with five daytime centres.
Now, the government plans eight maritime rescue sub-centres, with 24-hour operation retained at Falmouth, Milford Haven, Holyhead, Belfast, Stornoway, Shetland and Humber alongside Aberdeen. Only one operations centre, at Southampton/Portsmouth, will be created.
Hammond said that the government has always been ‘open to debate’ on the changes.
‘Our updated proposals will ensure the safety of seafarers and coastal communities, delivering the modernised and more cost-effective service we need for the twenty-first century, while also responding to the concerns raised during the consultation process.’
The changes were welcomed by transport select committee chair Louise Ellman, who said that it was ‘reassuring that ministers have accepted our key recommendation to abandon any notion of “daylight hour” coastguard stations’.
She said: ‘I am pleased these revised plans ensure all remaining stations will operate on a 24‑hour basis - able to provide swift and expert assistance to people on local coastlines and in local waters, whatever the time of day or night.’
The eight stations that will close from next year through to 2014/15 are at Clyde, Forth, Portland, Liverpool, Yarmouth, Brixham, Thames and Swansea. The Maritime Operations Centre will replace the station at Solent.
Ellman said that the closures, which will be consulted on by the DfT until October 6, were ‘regrettable’, but she added: ‘I hope the government will continue listening.’
