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17/02/2011
Bangor Coastguard Gets Political Lifeline
As it emerged today that the North's top political figures have united to back a beleaguered Co Down coastguard station, the DUP MP Jim Shannon has already been pressing the Prime Minister on the future of Bangor Coastguard Station.
The Strangford MP highlighted to the Prime Minister the important work of the local facility and expressed cross-party concern about its possible closure in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
If Bangor Coastguard closes it will have a significant impact on the operation of the Irish Coastguard service - as it is regularly tasked to rescues to locations across the Irish border and around all the coastal waters of Ireland.
Now, the Stormont First and Deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness are to visit Bangor coastguard today to call for it to remain open.
A Westminster consultation is under way on the plan to close all but eight of the UK's 18 24-hour centres - including the one at Bangor.
That's even though the coastguard station in Bangor is responsible for initiating land air and sea searches, including inland waters across the whole of Northern Ireland.
Under Westminster proposals five sub-centres would operate only during daylight hours in Swansea, Falmouth, Humber, either Bangor or Liverpool, and Stornoway or Shetland.
Only three 24-hour centres would remain - in Aberdeen, Dover and the Southampton/Portsmouth area.
Yesterday, after Prime Minister's Question Time, the Strangford MP said: "I was pleased that the Prime Minister has at least recognised that there is concern throughout the entirety of the United Kingdom about the plans of the coalition government to cut back on the service provided by the coastguard."
He said that members of the PM's own party who represent coastal constituencies have raised serious concern that the planned closure of stations throughout the UK will put lives at risk in United Kingdom waters.
"I am in no way persuaded that the plans in regard to the coastguard will do anything to keep people safe at sea.
"The DUP has been working with other parties to ensure cross-party co-operation in the fight to save the Bangor Coastguard Station," continued the MP.
"This is no small matter of budget savings: we are talking about people's lives being put at risk. I will continue to work with colleagues in Westminster to press the coalition government to retain this vital local service." he fumed.
(BMcC/GK)
The Strangford MP highlighted to the Prime Minister the important work of the local facility and expressed cross-party concern about its possible closure in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
If Bangor Coastguard closes it will have a significant impact on the operation of the Irish Coastguard service - as it is regularly tasked to rescues to locations across the Irish border and around all the coastal waters of Ireland.
Now, the Stormont First and Deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness are to visit Bangor coastguard today to call for it to remain open.
A Westminster consultation is under way on the plan to close all but eight of the UK's 18 24-hour centres - including the one at Bangor.
That's even though the coastguard station in Bangor is responsible for initiating land air and sea searches, including inland waters across the whole of Northern Ireland.
Under Westminster proposals five sub-centres would operate only during daylight hours in Swansea, Falmouth, Humber, either Bangor or Liverpool, and Stornoway or Shetland.
Only three 24-hour centres would remain - in Aberdeen, Dover and the Southampton/Portsmouth area.
Yesterday, after Prime Minister's Question Time, the Strangford MP said: "I was pleased that the Prime Minister has at least recognised that there is concern throughout the entirety of the United Kingdom about the plans of the coalition government to cut back on the service provided by the coastguard."
He said that members of the PM's own party who represent coastal constituencies have raised serious concern that the planned closure of stations throughout the UK will put lives at risk in United Kingdom waters.
"I am in no way persuaded that the plans in regard to the coastguard will do anything to keep people safe at sea.
"The DUP has been working with other parties to ensure cross-party co-operation in the fight to save the Bangor Coastguard Station," continued the MP.
"This is no small matter of budget savings: we are talking about people's lives being put at risk. I will continue to work with colleagues in Westminster to press the coalition government to retain this vital local service." he fumed.
(BMcC/GK)
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