McMillan Speaks in Coastguard Debate

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP) has today (Thursday) spoken in a Scottish Government Debate on Maritime Safety and Coastguards.

Mr McMillan used his speech to highlight the reckless and ill-though decision by the UK Con/Lib Dem Government to close Clyde Maritime Rescue & Co-ordination Centre (MRCC).　 Mr McMillan was a passionate campaigner in support of retaining Clyde coastguard and maintaining the local knowledge of staff which is so vital to this service.　

Mr McMillan said;

"I spoke in this Parliamentary debate with a heavy heart. This week, campaigners for the Clyde MRCC based in Greenock heard the news they and the Inverclyde Community had been dreading – the Greenock base is to close.

"I wholeheartedly support the 31 men and women who work in Greenock delivering the full range of coastguard services. Their skill, expertise, understanding and local knowledge covering 2,500 miles of Scottish coastline will be hard to replicate.

"It’s vital to maintain the local knowledge of the men and women who serve at MRCC Clyde.

"MRCC Clyde is the busiest coastguard station in Scotland and the third busiest in the UK.

"Therefore, the dangers of the closures are clear as they threaten to leave us with too few coordination centres, too few staff and a lot less local knowledge."

UK COASTGUARD CUTS PUT LIVES AT RISK

SNP HIGHLIGHT CAPABILITY CONCERNS

Responding to a statement on the future of Coastguard services in the Commons today (Tuesday) the SNP expressed grave concern over capability gaps that had been created in search, rescue and coastguard cover and called for responsibility over the lifeline services to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

Responding to a statement by the Department for Transport, SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP said:

"The UK Government are putting lives at risk by carrying on with these reckless cuts which confirm that two out of five coastguard stations in Scotland will close.

"These closures cannot be seen in isolation. There is already uncertainty about the future of emergency tug services, and UK Ministers have scrapped long-range fixed-wing Search and Rescue capability operating from the north of Scotland and are still considering the closure of the Air Rescue Coordination Centre at Kinloss.

"With ever increasing activity on Scotland's seas - through oil and gas, offshore renewables, fishing and tourism – there are real concerns over the UK Government's ability to manage the coastguard service.

"The UK is making really bad decisions for coastguard services in Scotland which raise real safety concerns. We should make better decisions in Scotland and not leave it to London."

West of Scotland SNP MSP Stuart McMillan, who has worked with the campaign to save the Clyde MRCC in Greenock and led a members debate in the Scottish Parliament on the issue branded the move to shut Scotland’s busiest coastguard base which employs 30 people at the end of next year as ‘disgraceful’.

Mr McMillan said:

"Closing Clyde is reckless and misguided and shows the UK Government continues to miss the point of local coastguard services."

"The UK Government’s claim that Clyde’s 2,500 miles of coastline can be adequately covered by other bases over one hundred miles further away is simply foolish, the closure is bad news for all who live and use the Clyde coast – for business or pleasure.

"Clyde’s waters see 10 million tonnes of cargo annually and have no less than 27 marinas. It is one of the busiest areas in the UK for ferry travel with 8.5 million passengers a year and the base for the UK’s nuclear submarines. These cuts are totally irresponsible."

Rod Campbell, MSP for North Fife, echoed Mr McMillan’s concerns. Mr Campbell said:

"The Tory Lib coalition have failed Scotland and failed Fife. The lifeline services of Forth Coastguard are recognised and valued here and the local campaigners told the UK Government as much.

"From the oil and offshore renewable industry, to fisheries and tourism the Forth and Scotland’s east coast are increasingly important parts of Scotland’s economy.

"This closure could have been avoided if, as we proposed, Coastguard services were devolved to the SNP Government but frustratingly, on both these points, the UK Government has had their fingers in their ears."

NORTHERN IRELAND FM HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR LOCAL COASTGUARD KNOWLEDGE

SNP MSP SUPPORTED BY PETER ROBINSON WHO HAS SAFETY CONCERNS OVER PROPOSED CLOSURE OF CLYDE COASTGUARD

The First Minister of Northern Ireland has highlighted the need for local knowledge with regards to Clyde Coastguard in its campaign against UK Government cuts.

The UK Government’s plans to reduce the number of coastguard bases would see Clyde - the busiest Coastguard station in Scotland employing over 30 people - close and the responsibility of area which stretches over some of the most used waterways in the British Isles be carved up between stations including Belfast.

In reply to Stuart McMillan, SNP MSP for West of Scotland, Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson says that local knowledge and safety are of paramount importance to the future of delivering a service for the people using the waterways of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The leader of Northern Ireland’s Assembly Government said:

“Our concerns centre on the safety of the people using our coasts and seaways which could be jeopardised by the loss of local knowledge and experience.”

Mr McMillan said:

“We welcome the support from the First Minister of Northern Ireland. The case for opposing the closure of Coastguard stations including Clyde in Greenock is overwhelming.

“Local knowledge of our rugged coastline is the key to our highly valued Coastguard services who keep the waters safe for millions of users every year.

“The SNP Government and Scotland’s First Minister have already given their support to retaining Clyde and other coastguard stations across Scotland.

“Despite the consultation period being over it is not too late for the UK Government listen to the growing number of voices saying that this must be reversed.

“Closing coastguard stations down including Clyde is a short-sighted and dangerous move which puts saving money over saving lives.”

Fight to Save Clyde Coastguards Continues

Stuart McMillan MSP joins a delegation to meet with First Minister Alex Salmond MSP. The First Minister added his full support to maintaining Coastguards services on the Clyde:

McMillan Raises Clyde Coastguard Issue in Parliament

Stuart McMillan MSP SNP has today (Thursday) raised the issue of the future of Clyde Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in the Scottish Parliament with

Mr McMillan used the opportunity to raise the issue in the Scottish Parliament, once again, echoing the view that local knowledge is vital when it comes to the coastguard services and Clyde must remain open.

Mr McMillan said;

“There is cross party support in Scotland to keep the Clyde MRCC and other stations open.

“Leaving the West Coast of Scotland to be covered by the stations in Belfast and Stornoway, who won’t have the local knowledge, may well add to the time it takes to get to those in trouble. This situation would be highly dangerous and I believe is ill advised.

“Local knowledge and understanding are vital when dealing with emergency situations and with half of Scotland’s marina’s in the Clyde MRCC area, as well as numerous ferry routes including the high volume routes from Gourock, there will be a reduction in confidence and growth from investors if they feel that safety on the Clyde is being placed in jeopardy.

“Therefore, it’s vital we retain MRCC Clyde in Greenock in-order to reassure the public in West Scotland that safety is of paramount importance rather than what we are currently witnessing which is a cost cutting exercise from the Tory Lib Dem UK Government.”

MCMILLAN COMMENTS ON COASTGUARD MEETING

SNP MSP Stuart McMillan has today [Wednesday] said that the UK government’s current proposals to close the Clyde coastguard station are threatening lives.

The Tory-Lib plans will see the Greenock MRCC closed in the next four years with responsibility for the busy and extensive waters being divvied up between centres at Belfast and Stornoway.

At a meeting in Greenock today campaigners pledged to continue their fight to keep Scotland's busiest coastguard station open.

There will now be a further rally in Greenock on September 24 as the opposition to the planned cut gains momentum.

Mr McMillan said:

“I got involved in politics to try and help people, not to put peoples’ lives into danger, and putting peoples’ lives into danger is exactly what the UK government proposals will do if the cuts are made.

“I wonder if the people behind these proposals have looked into the possible loss of lives when there is a delay when there is a call out from Belfast or Stornoway?

“What impact will a boat or helicopter taking an extra five minutes have on stranded people’s lives?

“What if that delay is 10 minutes - or half an hour?

“Nobody has been told these things but what is certain is that lives will be lost if Clyde Coastguard is allowed to be lost.

“And there is no substitute for local knowledge. Not only will the teams from the other centres be stretched if they have to look after Clyde’s huge and busy area but they won’t know the coastline the way the team here do.”

PROPOSED CLOSURE OF SCOTLAND’S BUSIEST COASTGUARD PUTS MONEY BEFORE LIVES

SNP MSP Stuart McMillan has stepped up the fight to save Scotland’s busiest Coastguard base saying that lives will be lost if it is allowed to close.

Mr McMillan is to contact his counterparts in Northern Ireland to discuss the UK’s plans to make Belfast responsible for the Clyde area.

Clyde Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) deployed more Search and Rescue hours than any other station in Scotland in 2010, and was the third most active in the UK.

Mr McMillian, speaking ahead of a public meeting in Greenock next week, described the UK Government’s proposal for Clyde coastguard area’s responsibility is to be divided up amongst existing centres in Belfast and Stornoway as “dangerous and foolish”.

Clyde covers a unique area including Glasgow and Prestwick airports, seven ferry routes, dozens of islands and the Faslane naval base.

A community-led and nationwide online campaign to save the vital service is in full flow and is supported of Mr McMillan who is in regular contact with Clyde staff.

He said: “It is imperative that the UK Government’s Department of Transport looks again at the facts and reviews the case for saving Greenock’s Clyde Coastguard Centre.

“The UK government are prioritising saving money ahead of saving lives. It really is that serious.

“The Firth of Clyde is one of the busiest and strategically most important waterways in the UK.

“It is a part of Scotland that is loved by tourists and locals and has some of the best sailing waters in the world. Over 2.5million people travelled on passenger ferry journeys in the area last year alone.

“The river remains an important corridor for trading vessels and fishing boats alike.

“And it houses the UK’s nuclear weapons. Do the UK Government really think it’s a good idea to have no coastguard service located in an area with such a high concentration of interests.

“To do away with a committed and fully functioning coastguard service with expert local knowledge would leave a void that could not be filled by an over stretched centre in Belfast. The UK’s plans would see the largest coastguard area handed over to a base in Belfast that is currently responsible for one of the smallest.

“It would be a dangerous and foolish move to let the Clyde centre close.”

The Clyde centre serves a vast area of western Scotland including; Mull of Galloway to Ardnamurchan Point, the Islands of Jura, Gigha, Islay, Arran, Coll, Tiree, Mull, Bute and Cumbrae.

With other emergency services devolved, Mr McMillan argues that the Scottish Government should be granted responsibility for the coastguard in Scotland.

He added: “Both in delivering and operating services there is no substitute for local knowledge and understanding.

“Scotland’s emergency services should be managed for Scotland’s needs.

“The west coast of Scotland needs this service and it is essential Westminster recognise this. If they are unable to deliver the services required then they should transfer the responsibility to the Scottish Government.”

McMillan Receives Scottish Government Response to Clyde Coastguard Closure

Stuart McMillan MSP (SNP) has today (Monday) received a response letter from the Scottish Government in connection with the proposed closure of Clyde Coastguard Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC).

The letter from the Minister for Transport, Keith Brown MSP highlights the Scottish Government’s disappointment with the plans to close Clyde and Forth stations. The Minister argues, it is vital the final structure is fit for purpose and ensures the safety of mariners and those using the Scottish coastline.

Mr McMillan said:

“I share the Minister for Transport’s disappointment in the proposed closure of Clyde Coastguard Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC).

“Only last week I, once again, meet with staff representatives at Clyde to discuss the way forward in fighting these closures.

“It’s important we continue to highlight how reckless the decision being taken to close Clyde is. The facility must stay in-order to maintain safety along our coastline.”