PROTESTS GROW AS SEA RESUE CUTS LOOM
A protest at plans to close the Coastguard station at Holyhead on Anglesey is taking place today.
The UK government is currently planning to cut the eighteen stations in use by over fifty per cent in an attempt to `modernise' the service. However coastal communities and mariners believe that the move will severely compromise sea
rescue facilities around Britain's coasts.
In a parallel move the UK Department of Transport plans to withdraw Emergency Towing Vessels (ETVs) which are sited at strategic locations around the British Isles.
The Celtic League has been stridently opposed to this move which has also been criticised by a wide range of coastal communities and mariners.
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In addition to the Holyhead coastguard station the important centre at Milford Haven in Wales is also under threat if the plans go ahead. Additionally three (out of five stations) in Scotland face closure in moves strongly opposed by the
Scottish (SNP) government.
Sea rescue facilities around Scotland and the Irish sea will be badly compromised. Two ETVs (at Milford and the Minch) will go and coastguard provision will be severely truncated.
The full consultative plan which sets out fully the damaging proposals to cripple sea rescue services can be found on the MCA web site at:
Before and after charts which illustrate the extent of the cuts can be found on pages 15 and 24 respectively of the MCA document.
A full range of additional documents relating to cost cutting plans for the ETVs are also available on the MCA web site here:
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cga-infrastructureandresources/mcga-dops_cp_review_of_etvp.htm
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
30/04/11
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues.
TEL (UK)01624 877918 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609
Internet site at:
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