Coastguard Cuts - next week's public consulation meetings.

MPs to probe coastguard cuts plans             17 February 2011

The House of Commons transport committee has announced a full inquiry into government plans to close ten coastguard stations with the loss of more than 200 jobs.
Eighty-seven MPs – including 19 from the governing coalition parties – have signed a parliamentary motion opposing the scheme.


Individuals or interested groups should send written evidence for the committee to transev@parliament.uk by Tuesday 26 April.


Already 1,176 people have written to their MPs to protest using a form on the PCS website.


The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) – which runs the service – is holding twenty open consultation meetings around the UK in the next three weeks.


PCS – which represents coastguards and other workers at the MCA – is urging everyone who opposes the cuts to attend the meetings and make their feelings known.


Each event will be independently chaired, starting at 7.30pm and scheduled to close at 9pm.


The full list of meetings from the MCA website is:


• Humber - Monday, 21 February 2011, The Spa, South Marine Drive, Bridlington, East Yorkshire. YO15 3JH
• Thames - Tuesday 22 February 2011, Columbine Centre, Princes Esplanade, Walton on the Naze, Essex. CO148PZ
• Yarmouth - Wednesday 23 February 2011, Great Yarmouth Town Hall, Hall Plain, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk. NR30 2QF
• Aberdeen - Wednesday, 23 February 2011, Pittodrie Stadium, Pittodrie Street, Aberdeen. AB24 5QH
• Forth - Thursday, 24 February 2011, Waid Academy, St Andrews Road, Anstruther, Fife. KV10 3 HD
• Dover – Thursday, 24 February 2011, Dover Town Hall, Biggin Street, Dover, Kent. CT16 1DL
• Shetland - Monday, 28 February 2011, Town Hall, Upper Hillhead, Lerwick, Shetland. ZE1 0HB
• Stornoway - Tuesday, 1 March 2011, Nicholson Institute, Springfield Road, Stornoway. HS1 2PZ
• Solent - Tuesday 1 March 2011, Thorngate Halls (Community Centre), Thorngate Halls, Bury House, Bury Road, Gosport, Hampshire. PO12 3PX
• Holyhead - Wednesday, 2 March 2011, Holyhead High School, Alderley Terrace, Holyhead, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey. LL65 1NP
• Clyde - Wednesday 2 March 2011, Port Glasgow Town Hall, 35 King Street, Port Glasgow. PA14 5HD
• Belfast - Thursday, 3 March 2011, Marine Court Hotel, 18-20 Quay Street, Bangor. BT20 5ED
• Liverpool – Thursday, 3 March 2011, Southport Convention Centre, The Promenade, Southport. PR9 0DZ
• Milford Haven – Friday, 4 March 2011, Cleddau Bridge Hotel, Essex Road, Pembroke Dock. SA72 6EG
• Swansea – Monday, 7 March 2011, Marriott Hotel, Maritime Quarter, Swansea. SA1 3SS
• Portland - Tuesday, 8 March 2011, All Saints Church of England School, Sunnyside Road, Wyke Regis, Weymouth. Dorset, DT49BJ
• Falmouth – Wednesday 9 March 2011, Tremough Campus, Treliever Road, Penryn, Cornwall. TR10 9EZ
• Brixham - Thursday, 10 March 2011, Brixham College, Higher Ranscombe Road, Brixham. TQ5 9HF
• Kirkwall - Tuesday, 15 March 2011, Town Hall, Broad Street, Kirkwall. KW15 1DH
• Ullapool – Wednesday, 16 March 2011, Macphail Centre, Mill Street, Ullapool, Ross-shire. IV26 2UN.


House of Commons tRansport Commitee


Read the parliamentary motion opposing the cuts


Write to your MP quickly and for free – even if they have already signed the motion


Lib Dem leaders rebel over coastguard cuts


PCS in the Department of Transport