1st February 2012

LYME REGIS: Mayor calls for local residents to support coastguard helicopter

THE Mayor of Lyme Regis, Councillor Sally Holman, is calling for local residents to support the campaign to keep the coastguard helicopter at Portland.

Councillor Holman has joined local MPs Oliver Letwin and Richard Drax in their campaign to keep Portland’s search and rescue coastguard helicopter, which could be closed in 2017 and replaced with the new Maritime Operations Centre in Hampshire. The Department for Transport has said this change will provide a more reliable service overall.

However, the Mayor has expressed concerns that extra flight time from Lee-on-Solent will “cost lives”. She added that divers are “especailly at risk”.

Councillor Holman said she is seeking the involvement of local residents “to show our MPs that we are right behind them and appreciate their efforts”.

“I would ask you to email either or both MPs and tell them again that you are keen to see the service kept at Portland.

“We could concentrate on the point made by Richard Drax, that since 25 per cent of all coastguard co-ordinated callouts in 2011 were within the Lee on Solent, Portland and Brixham areas, then 25 per cent of resources should be concentrated in those same areas.”

LYME REGIS: Mayor calls for local residents to support coastguard helicopter

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