Anger as council ‘reneges’ on life saving deal

TORBAY Council has pulled the plug on funding for life-saving new equipment for Brixham fishing crews.

Two hundred fishermen had already applied for the state-of-the-art lifejackets, but the project has become another victim of cash cuts.

The council has been forced to impose a block on all non-essential spending as the government slashes millions of pounds off the funding it gives them.

Torbay Mayor Gordon Oliver says that in order to protect the services the council has to deliver by law, the savings have to be found elsewhere.

He said this week: “The latest draft budget proposals will have an impact on local residents, visitors, our communities and service users, and if I had a choice I would not be proposing to make these changes.”

Almost a year ago the council voted to spend £13,000 as its share of more than £50,000 worth of new state-of-the-art lifejackets.

Each jacket has a personalised beacon, which transmits information as soon as the wearer goes into the water.

It is designed to save vital time searching for people in the water, and has been hailed a lifesaver by the fishing industry.

In a meeting last December Brixham councillor Vic Ellery urged the council to support the spending and said: “This lifejacket is the future.”

Mayor Oliver backed him and said: “This is a special moment in the history of fishing. At last something has been invented that fishermen can use practically.

“The risks in fishing are enormous, but this is something very special and will save the lives of many fishermen.”

But now the financial climate has changed, and the council has had to drop its support.

The decision prompted fierce criticism from the fishing industry, with a post on Facebook pointing out that Plymouth City Council had found funds to back a similar scheme and saying: “It turns out our abhorred Torbay Council has a very short memory.

“This has been a success throughout many parts of the UK where local councils have realised the benefit to their communities.

“Last year Torbay council received in excess of £1.1m from fish tolls in Brixham. Somehow I don’t think us Torbay residents would be able to retract on a promise to pay a bill to Torbay Council.”

Barry Young, managing director of Brixham Trawler Agents, said there was anger that the council had ‘reneged’ on the deal.

He said: “It’s not the £13,000, it’s the principle. It’s a broken promise. They were going to provide fishermen with this life-saving equipment and now they’re not.

“Around the quay people are saying that it’s an absolute joke.

“It was the council’s idea in the first place, and now we’re left out. Brixham does generate a decent chunk of money for the council.

“The principle is more important than the money.”

Independent councillor Mr Ellery said he was disappointed that the council had been unable to fund the lifejackets, and said approaches had been made to the fishing industry itself to find the £13,000.

He said the council’s hands were tied and added: “We haven’t had the grant, so we can’t do anything.

“Some things, I think, are more of a priority than others. When it’s life and death, you’d think it might be a priority.

“Now it is up to the industry to make up the difference, and

Cllr Vic Ellery with one of the life jackets they have gone away to talk to the skippers.”

He said a change in the law earlier this year meant that skippers were now responsible for the health and safety of their crew.

He said: “These lifejackets will save lives, there is no doubt. I am very hopeful that the industry will support this because it is in their interests to keep their crewmen safe.

“I’ve got everything crossed.”