RNLI.

[gag1]

Anyone see the article in the Chronicle on Monday the 28th of June regarding the RNLI and lifeboat station closures ? It appears that the RNLI suits are going to do a survey on all of their stations to establish whether any particular station is worth keeping open or not !. This will be worth watching.

gag1

 

[TC]

Nope, I didn\'t see that, gag1.

I\'ll see if we\'ve still got a copy of yeaterdays Chronicle at work tomorrow.

Definitely something to keep an eye on.

With it being in the Chronicle, was it referring to just the N.E. region, or the whole country ?

 

[gag1]

Hello Tony, I think the article referred to the whole country and not just our neck of the woods. There was a photo of Billy Shiels from Seahouses. Billy is the guy running some of the trips to the Farnes from Seahouses and he commented that the last time that the RNLI carried out one of these exercises, two Lifeboat stations were lost in the North East. If you cannot find a copy of the article I think I still have mine lying around the house somewhere and I will gladly post it off to you.

Cheers Tony.

gag1

 

[TC]

Couldn\'t get hold of a copy of the Chronicle - must\'ve been dumped.

If there\'s gonna be any further action or fall out following (or during) the RNLI survey, I\'d guess there\'d be quite a bit of press about it.

Thanks for the offer of sending the article to me, gag1, but it looks to be something that will recieve further national and local attention and the article in the Chronicle may just be the 1st of many.

Like you say, this is something worth watching out for.

 

[Ell]

Bad Things to come methinks, If so let\'s try to stop it. The boards been very good at raising money I\'m sure between us we\'d form a decent pressure group.

 

[willywetegg]

Well said Ian.

Jim.

 

[KeithB]

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/eveningchronicle/eveningchronicle/page.cfm?objectid=14373779&method=full&siteid=50081

 

[Charlton]

From what i have heard with the bigger stations getting bigger and better offshore boats they can cover more ground than some of the smaller craft. What the Chronicle does not say is that some of the smaller station with rigid inflatable boats are actually being upgraded and will get bigger and better and newrer inshore boats better suited for their area. I belive Cullercoats is getting an inshore with two 150hps engines.

 

[TC]

Thanks for the link, Keith

I guess we\'lll just have to wait & see what conclusions are formed following their survey.

As Alan was hinting at though.........just because they are looking at the way in which they currently provide cover, doesn\'t automatically mean that the service provision would deteriorate as a consequence of their survey.

 

[gag1]

Just been watching the late night North East news on ITV and there was an item regarding the RNLI. It appears that they are planning to scale down operations at both Blyth and Sunderland. Dont have any further details at present. Did anyone else see the item, (News at Ten,8th of July).

gag1

[Edited on 8/7/2004 by gag1]

 

[TC]

Gag1 ..... See IanWs\' \"LIFEBOATS\"post in the RNLI forum.

Missed the news tonight.....working \'til 8:00 (so missed the evening news)

Got home 8:20 and started doing stuff for work on the computer (and still here ), so I missed the late news aswell.

It would appear, from what Ian says, there\'ll be only 1 offshore, all-weather boat (Tynemouth) covering the area from North of Blyth to South of Sunderland :exclam:

[Edited on 8/7/2004 by TC]

 

[gag1]

Thanks Tony, will have a look at LIFEBOATS when I get home from work tonight. Doesnt look too good at the moment does it, just hope that as you suggested before, those stations left operating may get more cash and kit to use but at the end of the day, in my book, a closure is a closure.
Cheers Tony.

gag1

 

[TC]

Didn\'t have time last night to check this, but I\'ve had a look today and what they\'re proposing would mean that North of the Tyne, the next RNLI all weather / offshore Lifeboat is based at Amble - South of the Tyne, the next one\'s at Hartlepool.
Dunno what the criteria is for deciding which goes and which stays on stream.....if it\'s call out frequency.....the Sunderland lifeboat was called out just last week :exclam:

 

[Charlton]

Blyth and Sunderland from what i have heard will be getting Atlantic 21 rigid inflatable boats, excellent craft to cover inshore waters, instead of the little D class boats they have. Cullercoats inshore boat will also be upgraded from an Atlantic 21.

 

[gag1]

Thanks for the info Alan, we will just have to watch events unfold.

Cheers.

gag1