Ten to remain open 24 hours a day

The government has announced that it has watered down its plans to modernise the coastguard.

Eight stations are being closed, but the remaining 10 will all stay open 24 hours a day.

Previously ten of the 18 stations were to be shut down and only three were to be open around the clock, but those proposals were met with a backlash.

Transport secretary Philip Hammond told parliament yesterday that the stations at Falmouth, Milford Haven, Holyhead, Belfast, Stornoway, Shetland, Aberdeen and the Humber will be retained.

And there will also be a maritime operations centre near Portsmouth and Southampton, replacing the Solent station, and a back-up facility at Dover.

The stations at Swansea, Brixham, Clyde, Forth, Portland, Liverpool, Yarmouth and the Thames will all be closed starting from next year.

A 12-week consultation, ending on October 6, will now take place on the changes to the plan.

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