National Assembly calls for reorganisation of coastguard services to be risk-assessed
23 February 2012
The National Assembly for Wales’s Petitions Committee is calling for an independent risk assessment of proposals to reorganise coastguard services in Wales.
The UK Government proposals involve closing Swansea coastguard station with operations for the area potentially co-ordinated from stations located elsewhere in the UK.
The Committee was told that the closure would result in the loss of expert local knowledge of the area’s coastline.
Concerns were also raised about the apparent short length of time the UK Government took in publishing its own risk assessment after receiving 1,700 responses to the proposals.
Although powers over the Marine and Coastguard Agency are not devolved, the Petitions Committee believes the Welsh Government is able to commission its own risk assessment because of the possible implications for people who work or visit coastal areas in Wales.
“Having considered the issues relating to the petition, the Committee is clear that this matter is of great importance to the users of and visitors to our shores,” said Chair of Petitions Committee, William Powell AM.
“It is too soon to say if the fears highlighted in this report are well-founded, but given the perceived haste with which the risk reports were published, less than six weeks after approximately 1,700 consultation responses were received, such fears are understandable.
“The Committee has heard from many individuals and organisations that have grave concerns about the proposed changes to the Coastguard service. Given the strength of feeling on this issue, the Committee feels that it is imperative that the Welsh Government continues to challenge the UK Government’s decision.”