Last updated at 12:28, Monday, 07 January 2013

A CAMPAIGN which is rallying against the closure of coastguard stations across the UK has been backed by Cumbrian MPs.

The Coastguard SOS initiative asked MPs across the UK to register whether they were for or against the planned closures of maritime rescue and co-ordination centres (MRCCs).

Copeland MP Jamie Reed was one who responded saying he was against the impending closure.

There are 16 coastguard MRCCs in the UK. Under government plans half of the rescue centres will close.

This includes the closure of Liverpool coastguard – which responds to incidents in the Morecambe Bay area – that has been set for 2014/2015.

The station, the only MRCC on the west coast of England, manages more than 750 miles of coastline and also co-ordinates search and rescue operations on Derwentwater, Ullswater, Windermere and Coniston.

The sea rescue team, based at Crosby, has previously been called to help with dive incidents in Wastwater.

The message from the safety at sea campaign to the Government is that “HM Coastguard should not be subjected to cuts because the safety of those at sea and in coastal communities remains a much more urgent priority than financially driven targets.”

However, the Coastguard SOS campaign urges that the battle is not over for the Liverpool Coastguard.

First published at 11:22, Monday, 07 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk