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SNP MSP for the Western Isles, Alasdair Allan, will tomorrow join coastguard staff on a rally in Stornoway to protest at proposals from the UK Government which could see their coastguard station closed.
Alasdair Allan, who has led a debate in Parliament against the proposals, commented: “The event will be a powerful indication of support for the Stornoway Coast guard station, and a clear indication of the total opposition in the Western Isles to this ill-thought-out programme of cuts.
“We are not just protesting in support of people's jobs - important though that is. We are rallying to show how strongly people feel that what is being proposed is bad for safety at sea. Clearly there are plenty people in this community who agree. I believe that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, if they have any sense, must now realise just how badly they have got it wrong. If they reduce Scotland’s coastguard centres from five to two – only one of them operating full time- they will be massively centralising a service which depends on its staff’s very local knowledge of the coastline.
“I would take this opportunity to express support in the Western Isles not only for the retention of our own coastguard station, but for that in Shetland too. The safety of shipping and the environment is, I believe, dependent on both being kept open. Also vital is the availability of the coastguard’s emergency tugs, which the UK Government want to dispose of.
“We have had several incidents off this part of Scotland in recent weeks where both the tugs and the coastguards have been busy, whether saving French fishermen or gathering the debris after the recent Tornado crash. There is an ample case now for the MCA to abandon these crazy proposals and today’s rally is yet further evidence for the UK Government to go home and think again on this one.”
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