Today’s debate in Westminster Hall was called in response to the reorganisation of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Regrettably, Portland Coastguard Station, based in South Dorset, and one of the busiest in the country, is due to close.
Instead of 18 stations along our 11,000 miles of coastline, we are reduced to one Marine Operations Centre plus nine, 24-hour sub centres, tasked with managing their entire remit.
Although professional staff will be relocated, about 30 watchkeepers will go in Weymouth.
With them will go much of the intimate local knowledge, which makes the coastguard the extraordinary resource that it is.
After two, separate consultation periods, during which my constituents in South Dorset made their objections clear, we have, sadly, accepted the inevitable.
But if Portland Coastguard Station is to close, there is no reason why the new MOC should not be located in Weymouth and Portland.
Currently, the MCA has stated that: ‘There is no existing coastguard facility on the south coast suitable for conversion to a MOC and alternative options would need to be considered.”
They suggest that any new MOC should be located near a large, maritime sector.
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council (WPBC) has this week presented Undersecretary of State Mike Penning with a significant proposal to locate the new MOC at one of five sites in Weymouth or Portland.
One of them, Portland Port, is a busy, commercial, deepwater harbour, midway between Dover and Falmouth, with vast experience of naval, commercial and general marine operations.
It has existing relationships with the Royal Navy, the Fleet Auxiliary, the Royal Marines/Special Forces, DEFRA and many others.
There is a strong skills base in marine engineering embedded locally, dating from Portland’s recent history as an operational naval base.
Harbour Revision Order approval has already been granted for major expansion.
Future major activities could include servicing the proposed ENECO wind farm off the Isle of Wight.
And following the Olympics, the National Sailing Academy predicts an upsurge in world class sailing activities.
The WPBC proposal offers five potential sites for a new MOC.
Only three need refurbishing, saving on ‘new build’ costs inherent in the MCA Solent alternative.
Two are ‘new build’ sites.
Enhanced communications installed for the Olympics would carry the new, networked MCA systems.
And Portland, already home to the search and rescue (SAR) helicopter, could keep all the dedicated coastguard assets in one location.
Last week, a petition, signed by 22,000 South Dorset constituents, asking us to ‘Save our Lifesavers,’ was delivered to Number 10.
Like them, I fear the consequences of losing our local watchkeepers in such a seafaring county.
Locating the new MOC in South Dorset would fulfil the MCA’s requirements, while retaining an invaluable service where it is most needed and wanted.
Today’s debate is intended to demonstrate to the Minister that both Portland and Weymouth have the infrastructure, the expertise and the will to make a MOC there a success.
I believe he owes this proposal his most serious consideration.