CONTROVERSIAL plans to slash the number of coastguard stations around the UK – including Portland – will be discussed as a series of public meetings.

The planned cuts, announced by the government in December, will cut search and rescue co-ordination centres around the coast from 18 to eight – with just three open 24 hours.

Portland, which currently co-ordinates rescue operations along the Dorset coast, is set to close, leaving 27 staff under threat. Their work would be taken up by an expanded Solent coastguard centre.

Now members of the public are being invited to find out more about the proposals, ask questions of Maritime and Coastguard Agency representatives, and have the opportunity to express their views at a series of independently chaired meetings.

The Solent meeting will be on Tuesday, March 1 at Thorngate Halls Community Centre, Bury House, Bury Road, Gosport, 7.30pm.

And Portland station will be under discussion at All Saints Church of England School, Sunnyside Road, Wyke Regis, Weymouth on Tuesday, March 8.at 7.30pm.