Coastguard cuts will not put lives at risk says MP David Jones Coastguard cuts will not put lives at risk says MP David Jones

Dec 18 2010 by Dan Beavan, Daily Post

Holyhead Coastguard

COASTGUARD cuts will not put lives at risk says Wales Minister David Jones.
The Government yesterday announced the closure of Holyhead Coastguard Station as part of proposals to shut 11 of 19 UK stations.
Clwyd West MP Mr Jones said: “This is about putting in place a modernised, nationally networked Coastguard service which embraces new technology and is flexible enough to meet increasing demands.
“It is simply wrong to suggest the proposals will put lives at risk. Day to day working arrangements with frontline search and rescue services, such as the RNLI, will not be affected.

“This is about reorganising how Coastguard officers work.
“While there will be fewer Coastguard watch officers nationally, the new structure means we will be able to deploy more Coastguard resources on any major incident. Our existing station network already requires co-ordination centres to manage rescues over hundreds of miles of coastline.”