‘Lives could be at risk as lifeboat cover reduced’
THE Welsh coast could be left without an all-weather lifeboat for a 70-mile stretch, prompting warnings from campaigners that lives may be put at risk.
A five-year review has announced that from 2020 New Quay’s lifeboat services in Ceredigion will be changed, with an all-weather boat replaced by a smaller inshore model.
Campaigners say the decision will leave the nearest all-weather boats an hour and a quarter away from some parts of Ceredigion, with the nearest support at Barmouth and Fishguard.
While Barmouth and Pwllelli in Gwynedd will receive new all-weather boats, New Quay’s boat will be replaced by a faster, more manoeuvrable model that cannot be launched in extreme gale conditions.
Currently the all-weather boat at New Quay also serves areas including Cardigan, Aberystwyth and Aberporth.
The RNLI has defended the decision, saying the faster boats will be more effective along with help from neighbouring services.
New Quay lifeboat crew member Huw Williams has opposed the decision.
He said: “The new boat will be fine in 90% of weather but it’s that 10% of cases that lives will be put at risk.
“The facts speak for themselves – in this case having to wait an hour and a half for a lifeboat on a day when conditions are bad.”
New Quay all-weather lifeboat has had 82 callouts in the last 10 years compared to 51 callouts in Barmouth.
Mr Williams added that problems could be caused on days where lifeboats are faced with more than one incident.
In August 2016 lifeboats were called to an incident at Mwnt beach in Ceredigion at the same time as searches were ongoing for two boys who drowned off the coast of Barmouth.
The 42-year-old said: “At any moment there can be more than 250 passengers on boats in New Quay and the largest boat takes 69 people.
“There are more boats at New Quay than anywhere else on the coast of Wales
“It comes at a time when use of the sea is increasing rather than decreasing.”
A petition calling for New Quay’s all-weather boat to be continued has received a total of 5,000 signatures, including the support of a mum and daughter rescued by the service earlier this year.
A spokesman for the RNLI said while cost did not drive the decision, continuing the all-weather lifeboat would have cost £8m compared to the inland boat’s savings of £105,000 per year.
She said: “In Cardigan Bay, the last review in 2016 concluded that having 25-knot Shannon class allweather lifeboats at Barmouth and Pwllheli will ensure the RNLI can continue a comprehensive lifesaving service without the need to station an all-weather at New Quay.
“A fast, manoeuvrable Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat will therefore be best placed to respond to the number and type of casualties in this area.
“By allocating an inshore lifeboat to New Quay, running costs would also be reduced by £105,000 per year.
“However, the RNLI will be investing at New Quay lifeboat station by creating better training facilities for the crew, as well as the allocation of a new B-class inshore lifeboat which can be housed in the current building.”