Coastguard petition shows strength of feeling

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save the Lerwick coastguard station from government cuts handed over a huge petition containing around 13,500 signatures to northern isles MP Alistair Carmichael on a cold April morning in the town.

The signatures have been gathered in local shops and businesses, online and in Orkney over the past three months since the consultation on closing Lerwick or Stornoway station began.

Earlier this month the government extended the consultation until 5 May, while the House of Commons transport select committee is accepting submissions to its inquiry into the plans until 26 April.

PCS union branch chairwoman Alex Dodge (left in the picture with Mike Smith of PCS; Alistair Carmichael MP and Lee Coutts, chairman of Save Our Station – Photo: Shetland News) said it was important for people to keep the pressure on the government to save the coastguard from closure or being turned into a daytime only station.

“This is not finished yet. People must continue to keep the pressure up on the government to make sure they don’t shut Shetland coastguard. We can’t afford to lose the skills we have in the ops room,” she said.

Mr Carmichael, who has consistently opposed the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s modernisation plans, said: “I think that this petition, with this tremendous number of signatures, sends a very clear view that the coastguard has yet to persuade this community.”