By Pamela McGowan

Last updated at 12:41, Thursday, 25 October 2012

Campaigners claim “dangerously flawed” plans to close Coastguard stations, including the one covering Cumbria, have been dealt a heavy blow.

They believe Government proposals to scrap several rescue co-ordination centres across the UK in favour of a central control room in Hampshire will put lives at risk.

The Liverpool Coastguard station, which covers the waters around Cumbria, is among those under threat.

Representatives of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) and Nautilus unions have now taken their concerns to the Transport Select Committee. It is currently reviewing all of the evidence relating to the national modernisation plans, with a decision expected in the coming weeks.

As part of this process, committee members also this week questioned the UK Shipping Minister Stephen Hammond MP and Maritime & Coastguard Agency chief executive Sir Alan Massey.

Although they gave assurances that the plans are safe, Dennis O’Connor, from National Coastguard SOS Campaign, believes the select committee shares many of their concerns about the proposals – boosting hopes the closures will be scrapped.

“This is the second such inquiry by the TSC and it was obvious from Ministerial responses that whilst there may well be plenty of determination to close stations, there appears to be very little ability to formulate and implement a plan which is both credible and safe,” he said.

Among the concerns raised were claims that closures have begun before the centralised call centre has been fully tested. This call centre, at Fareham in Hampshire, currently stands empty and is not planned to be operational before 2014 at the earliest.

Campaigners also say that there are already chronic staff shortages affecting many of the Coastguard stations, including Liverpool.

A total of 28 detailed submissions have now been passed to the select committee for consideration. Mr O’Connor hopes this will stop the closure plans in their tracks.

Campaigners are also angry that, since being promoted to his role of UK Shipping Minister, Mr Hammond has not met with any Coastguard officers or visited any stations.

First published at 12:13, Thursday, 25 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk