East Lothian MP Fiona O’Donnell has today written to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Mike Penning, over the proposals to cut the number of Coastguard stations in the UK and urged him to save Fife Ness Coastguard Station which covers the Firth of Forth.
“The government’s proposal to cut the number of coastguard stations in Scotland is dangerous and will put lives at risk.
“The closure of Fife Ness would have serious implications for the safety around the coastline of the Firth of Forth.
“My constituents are concerned about maritime safety and the safety of local people who use the Forth for leisure activities.”
She pressed the Minister on when an announcement will be made on the future of the station and asked him if he had visited or made any plans to visit the station to meet with the local crew whose jobs are under threat.
“I am extremely disappointed that the Minister has not chosen to visit Fife Ness to meet with the local crew.
“The staff at the station have a great deal of local knowledge of the Forth and the surrounding coastline.
“If these posts are made redundant this local knowledge and expertise will be lost.
“However, more worryingly, losing this local knowledge may significantly impact on the coastguard’s ability to carry out search and rescue operations in the Forth, which in turn could risk lives.
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