NORTH-WEST

temporary closure

A dispute with lifeboat and hovercraft crew volunteers over a training programme and the station’s management resulted in the RNLI taking New Brighton lifeboat station temporarily off service for several weeks. The charity has decided to ‘stand down’ several volunteers who have refused to commit to the standards required of all RNLI volunteers, which means that New Brighton at the entrance to the Mersey will temporarily not be able to operate.

An RNLI spokesman said: ‘We aim to reopen the lifeboat station for a period in August. We would like to reassure the public that we are confident that the lifesaving service provided to the people of Merseyside and the Wirral will continue to be carried out effectively by RNLI lifeboats stationed at Hoylake, West Kirby and by local lifeguards. The area will also continue to be served by Mersey Marine Fire 1, and we are working closely with HM Coastguard through this interim period.’

The dispute involves several issues including a new training programme, the station’s management, the outcomes of an investigation into issues with the lifeboat crew, attempts to address deficiencies at the lifeboat station and breaches of the RNLI’s Volunteer Code of Conduct. harbour dredging delay Plans to dredge Peel Harbour have been delayed by around nine months. Work to remove up to 3,500m3 of silt was scheduled to be carried out this summer, but it was discovered that