I fail to see why it has taken from December 2010, when the closure plans were first put out by the Government and MCA, and now for people to catch on that stations are and will continue to be closed. If more had written to their MP's etc we may have had a chance of stopping the closures but it is too late now and the public will have to live with the consequences and possible danger that they may find themselves in.
Stations were campaigning rigorously then and have been since 2010 but their suggestions and concerned have been ignored with claims that the new centre at Fareham will be able to manage all the incidents on the south coast during the summer. If the current problems coming out from the Fareham centre then there is no way that they will be able to cope with such a high number of staff with little experience.
Coastguard Districts have been in the process of closing and combining to make larger districts for over thirty years. Nothing new.
Why all this doom and gloom and suggestions that Portland and Solent can't work as one?
It's many, many years since HMCG did visual watches. Years ago most small vessels did not carry a VHF radio. Visual watches were useful.
Most boats now have VHF plus mobile phones, which are not always ideal, are often used to call for help.
Channel 16 VHF coverage around the coast of the UK is excellent, probably the best of any country.
