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| Wales coastguard station campaigners hope for reprieve | Wales coastguard station campaigners hope for reprieve |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Opponents of plans to close Milford Haven and Holyhead coastguard stations are awaiting an expected announcement on their future on Thursday. | Opponents of plans to close Milford Haven and Holyhead coastguard stations are awaiting an expected announcement on their future on Thursday. |
| The UK government could close more than half of coastguard centres, and cut 24-hour rescue stations from 18 to three. | The UK government could close more than half of coastguard centres, and cut 24-hour rescue stations from 18 to three. |
| Milford Haven and Holyhead could close and Swansea would operate in daylight hours, but some reports have claimed 11 stations will stay open. | Milford Haven and Holyhead could close and Swansea would operate in daylight hours, but some reports have claimed 11 stations will stay open. |
| The government claims the modernisation will make the service stronger. | The government claims the modernisation will make the service stronger. |
| An announcement about the future of the coastguard stations is expected in the Commons on Thursday afternoon. | An announcement about the future of the coastguard stations is expected in the Commons on Thursday afternoon. |
| 'Rumours and conjecture' | 'Rumours and conjecture' |
| Reports on Sunday suggested that 11, not eight, of the 19 coastguard stations would now stay open. | Reports on Sunday suggested that 11, not eight, of the 19 coastguard stations would now stay open. |
| However, the PCS union said they did not know what would happen. | However, the PCS union said they did not know what would happen. |
| Holyhead branch secretary Ray Carson said: "There are all sorts of rumours and conjecture at the moment, but until the announcement is made we don't know what will happen. | Holyhead branch secretary Ray Carson said: "There are all sorts of rumours and conjecture at the moment, but until the announcement is made we don't know what will happen. |
| "The Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Mirror said there were plans to keep 11 of the stations open, but that means 42% of the stations will close." | "The Sunday Telegraph and Sunday Mirror said there were plans to keep 11 of the stations open, but that means 42% of the stations will close." |
| Dennis O'Connor, spokesperson for Save the Milford Haven coastguard, said: "In Pembrokeshire, we're run a very high-profile campaign to highlight our concerns and encourage the population of west Wales to also voice their concerns. | Dennis O'Connor, spokesperson for Save the Milford Haven coastguard, said: "In Pembrokeshire, we're run a very high-profile campaign to highlight our concerns and encourage the population of west Wales to also voice their concerns. |
| "It culminated in a 20,000 signature being handed into Downing Street a fortnight ago. | "It culminated in a 20,000 signature being handed into Downing Street a fortnight ago. |
| Last week, campaigners fighting plans to close Milford Haven and Holyhead coastguard stations called for immediate independent risk assessments. | Last week, campaigners fighting plans to close Milford Haven and Holyhead coastguard stations called for immediate independent risk assessments. |
| Save Milford Haven Campaign Group said it was concerned for tourists' safety. It handed in a petition on the steps of the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. | Save Milford Haven Campaign Group said it was concerned for tourists' safety. It handed in a petition on the steps of the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. |
| It is calling for risk and impact assessments on the safety of tourists visiting in light of the proposals. | It is calling for risk and impact assessments on the safety of tourists visiting in light of the proposals. |
| 'No evidence' | 'No evidence' |
| The proposals have led to protests at both Milford Haven and Holyhead and a 20,000-name petition was handed in to Downing Street earlier this month. | The proposals have led to protests at both Milford Haven and Holyhead and a 20,000-name petition was handed in to Downing Street earlier this month. |
| "It's (closing the station) going to leave a very wide gap that's going to be impossible to fill," added Mr O'Connor. | "It's (closing the station) going to leave a very wide gap that's going to be impossible to fill," added Mr O'Connor. |
| "There is absolutely no evidence to suggest rescue coordination could be carried out from the north of Scotland or from the south coast of England. | "There is absolutely no evidence to suggest rescue coordination could be carried out from the north of Scotland or from the south coast of England. |
| "Therefore, it will put people's lives in danger because it will slow response times. | "Therefore, it will put people's lives in danger because it will slow response times. |
| "The government have to listen to this. The Maritime and Coastguard agency also have to listen to it. | "The government have to listen to this. The Maritime and Coastguard agency also have to listen to it. |
| "They have to be realistic about what their capabilities are and what the expectations are for the safety of coastal users." | "They have to be realistic about what their capabilities are and what the expectations are for the safety of coastal users." |
| Swansea West MP Geraint Davies warned any closures or downgrading would increase tsafety risks. | |
| "There's a great deal of trepidation about the loss of Swansea," he said. "We're very concerned for local jobs but alos local safety. | |
| "The overall cost-saving from this is very small considering the potential risk. | |
| "Having a coastguard facility that is miles away that doesn't have any idea of the local geography does make it difficult and not having coverage in the evening makes it difficult. | |
| "We can't afford to be taking these sort of risks. They are very big risks." | |
| A Department for Transport spokesperson said last week: "The proposals put forward are in response to a need to bring the way coastguard rescues are co-ordinated into the 21st Century, making the service stronger, more resilient and improving its services at the front line." | A Department for Transport spokesperson said last week: "The proposals put forward are in response to a need to bring the way coastguard rescues are co-ordinated into the 21st Century, making the service stronger, more resilient and improving its services at the front line." |