LIFESAVERS and politicians have combined to condemn plans that will see search and rescue operations close at a Northumberland air base.
The Government announced yesterday that Sea King helicopter operations at RAF Boulmer will end in 2015, after 33 years of saving lives.
The decision has been greeted with dismay by local lifeboat crews and politicians who say local people rely on the excellent service provided by crews.
Although the station will remain open, rescue personnel will be redeployed to other RAF bases.
Between January and September this year, helicopters were called out more than 130 times, including a number of rescues of drivers from the Holy Island causeway. Since 2008 there have been 618 call outs.
The decision to end search and rescue at Boulmer means the region will instead be served by crews based in Lossiemouth, in the north of Scotland, Prestwick near Glasgow or RAF Leconfield near Hull.
Last night Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith said: Any new contractor will have to provide search and rescue to every part of the UK, but our communities and fishing industry are used to having that service provided from a local base and will have serious concerns about relying on helicopters from Prestwick, Lossiemouth or Leconfield.
At this stage it seems premature to talk about withdrawing from RAF Boulmer when we have no idea about who a future contractor will be or whether they would prefer to keep RAF Boulmer as one of the locations for their operations.
John Hanvey, coxswain at the RNLI lifeboat station at Seahouses, said: I am very dismayed to hear about this. I am worried about how long it will take a helicopter to get to an emergency if Boulmer closes. This needs to be looked at.
Parish councillor on Holy Island Dick Patterson said: I have a huge concern because the helicopter has been able to help stranded people on the causeway very quickly when the tide is high. They can be here in 10 or 15 minutes to help in all kinds of circumstances.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has already announced that it plans to retire its fleet of 30-year-old Sea Kings by March 2016.
Under the existing arrangements search and rescue is provided jointly by the MOD from eight military bases, with a further four civilian locations operated under contract to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Announcing the details of the plan, Transport Secretary Justine Greening said search and rescue would be provided by civilian crews once the Sea Kings were taken out of service.
She added that she expected to award a contract for the work early in 2013. The winning bidder would be expected to operate from 10 locations but provide at least the same level of service as at present.
Ms Greening said: The Royal Navy and the RAF crews have shown great dedication and professionalism in delivering an exemplary search and rescue service for many years and we owe them all great thanks.
