PROTESTERS fear lives will be put at risk if controversial plans to scrap Walton’s coastguard station go ahead.

The Thames Coastguard station in Walton is one of ten regional stations set to close as the Government looks to save more than £100million.

As part of the ongoing consultation, Maritime and Coastguard Agency officials visited Walton’s Columbine Centre on Tuesday night to field questions on the proposed changes.

More than 100 people turned up to fire questions at Tom Elder, regional director of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and Mike Bill, north-east Maritime and Coastguard Agency coastal safety manager. The main concern raised was the loss of local knowledge in rescues.

Karen Paradise, watch manager at Walton station and branch secretary for the Public and Commercial Services Union, said: “We believe local knowledge is too important to lose.

“If we lose that knowledge, then lives will be lost.

“We were very pleased with the turnout at the meeting and there was a good range of questions.

“The meeting didn’t change our minds at all. We still think cutting the stations is a major step too far.”

There were also accusations from questioners that the proposal seemed like a “done deal”, and that the changes were solely to do with saving money and nothing to do with safety.

However, Mr Elder said: “It will be just as safe as the current system, but it will bring it up to speed with the 21st century.

“Local rescue teams will remain in place, and while the local knowledge is important, it can be transferred over time.

“Response times will not change, but everything will be better co-ordinated from the new centres.

“We are also trying to improve resilience. This new structure means more people will be available to help with any given incident or emergency.

“These plans are long in the making and while there will be savings, the changes were not determined by cost.”

If the plans go ahead, the lost stations would be replaced by 24-hour operation centres in Aberdeen, Southampton and Dover.

Daytime-only sub centres would also run in Falmouth, Swansea, Humber, Liverpool or Belfast and Stornoway or Shetland. The Walton station is the third busiest in the country, dealing with about 650 incidents every year.

People can have their say on the proposals by visiting www.mcga.gov.uk