Calling all paddlers See you all on the water -11am 21 August – knab rock -Mumbles
The ‘Save Swansea Coastguard’ campaign has stepped up a gear with a planned floating protest on the water off Knab Rock in Mumbles on Sunday 21st August.Campaigners are urging all water users – from surfers to sailors – to get in the water off Knab Rock at 11am to show their support for the closure threatened Swansea Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre. The station, based in Mumbles, will shut by 2015 as part of a review announced by the UK government in a move which could put lives at risk not just off the Swansea and Gower coastlines but across the entire Bristol Channel.
Campaign co-ordinator Mike Dubens said:“We need the support of all of the water and beach users out there; anyone from surfers to sailors, to kayakers to yachters, even if you just love taking your children to the beach for a paddle, this will effect you and we need your backing. We’re urging people from all watersports to come and get in the water as part of the floating protest and those who would rather keep their feet on dry land are welcome to come and support us on from Knab Rock – the more the merrier, land or sea!
“If Swansea Coastguard were to close, the repercussions would be just devastating, and not only for Swansea as the station covers the whole of the Bristol Channel. This decision made by the Government is ill-judged and may even put people’s lives at risk. The facts speak for themselves as Swansea Coastguard saw to over 2,000 incidents just in 2010 alone, making it the second busiest station in the UK, whereas our neighbouring station in Milford Haven, which is to remain open, didn’t see to half the number of incidents.”
Campaigners are also urging the public to sign the petition at www.saveswanseacoastguard.co.uk to help them get to their target of 100,000 signatures to take to Downing Street.
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