Round-the-clock coastguard service to be retained
COUNCIL leader Michael Foxley has welcomed an announcement by the UK Government to retain a 24/7 coastguard service in the Highlands and Islands.
He said he was “delighted” with transport secretary Philip Hammond’s decision to retain a round-the-clock coastguard service in Stornoway and Lerwick.
He said the local coastguards’ knowledge was “critical for shipping and coastal communities in the Highlands and Islands”.
However, the councillor has also renewed his call to put a six-month delay on the withdrawal of emergency towing vessels around the UK shoreline pending consideration of new income-generating proposals presented by the task force he chairs.
Mr Foxley has again written to defence secretary Dr Liam Fox and environment secretary Caroline Spelman urging a reprieve for the four emergency towing vessels, two of which are based in the Highlands and Islands – at Stornoway and Lerwick.
He said the withdrawal, due in September, will leave the Royal Navy with a serious gap in capability in the event of an emergency involving one of its ships in the critical areas covered by the ETVs.
