Published at 09:13, Saturday, 05 February 2011
SHIPPING Minister Mike Penning has admitted the Coastguard centre which controls operations in Cumbria was listed for closure before the consultation into the future of the service even started.
Asked if the original draft devised for streamlining the UK’s service named Liverpool as the centre that should be shut down – as revealed in the News Star last week – he admitted that was the case.
Under a massive shake-up of the service that will leave just three full time stations across the UK, Liverpool is being pitted against the Belfast base and only one will remain.
Mr Penning said: “Liverpool was for closure and I said ‘no, it’s a very balanced argument between Belfast and Liverpool, so we will look at that’.”
And now ministers have agreed to publish the safety assessment into closing centres after many MPs fear lives will be put at risk. It was due to be released at the end of the current consultation, at the end of March. Some opposition MPs had disputed whether it even existed.
Mr Penning said: “It’s really wrong to use emotive language to say that people will die if these changes take place. There is no evidence of that whatsoever.”
Insisting many coastguards supported the proposed changes, the minister added: “I will be publishing the safety assessment next week.”
No date has been set for a final decision on the proposed closures, following the end of the consultation on March 24.
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
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