News / 10,000 sign coastguard petition
AT LEAST one third of Shetland’s population has signed the petition calling for the islands’ coastguard coordinating station to be kept open.
The petition was launched after the government announced their plans to close 10 of the UK’s 18 coastguard stations, along with a consultation to choose whether Lerwick or Stornoway should shut or be turned into a day time only service.
On Monday the campaign group Save Our Station (SOS) said they had received a total of 10,000 signatures with more due in. The group hopes to hand the petitions to shipping minister Mike Penning when he visits Shetland this week.
An SOS spokesman said 7,000 people had signed paper petitions in Shetland’s shops, while a further 3,000 signatures had been retrieved online from Shetland, Orkney and beyond.
He said that more paper petitions were due in from Shetland and Orkney by Tuesday afternoon.
The shipping minister’s plans are still unclear. He has promised to visit the western isles, Orkney and Shetland on Wednesday and Thursday this week, but no itinerary had been issued by Monday evening.
Last week the government announced they were extending the consultation for a further six weeks until 5 May.
The House of Commons transport select committee is also holding its own inquiry into the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s plans to close the coastguard stations, end the contract for its four emergency towing vessels and remove the offshore fire fighting service.
The SOS spokesman said that European trade unions representing seafarers have written to Mr Penning condemning the proposals.
The group asked anyone with petitions to hand in to call 01595 692976 or email soscg@shetlandcoastguard.info
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