Richard Exell

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency today published proposals for a drastic reduction in the number of Coastguard stations and staff, that would save £20 million over the next four years compared with the cost of upgrading the stations. Currently there are 18 Coastguard stations, under the plans there would be three open 24-hours (Aberdeen, Southampton/Portsmouth and Dover) and five sub-centres open during the day. This is a genuine ‘Big Society’ initiative – there will be a reduction from 596 to 370 in the number of regular Coastguard officers, who will “focus on leading and supporting” the volunteers of the Coastguard Rescue Service, who will do more of the front-line rescue work.