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Walkout by coastguards sparks fears
SAFETY fears in Poole Harbour are mounting after it emerged eight part-time coastguards have quit amid accusations of bullying.
The men, boasting more than a century's combined service with the town's volunteer auxiliary coastguard, resigned during the past six months - slashing numbers for emergency "shouts" at Poole's coastguard station from 12 to just four.
One of the men who left, former station officer Pete Probut, said: "The fear now is, if a mud rescue is needed in the harbour there could be a fatality because there is simply no longer the manpower available.
"We want the people of Poole to know we were forced into this action.We never wanted to let them down."
The eight accuse Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) bosses of a lack of proper training and perpetuating a bullying culture at Poole, including making unreasonable demands on volunteers' time and refusing to act on complaints. These accusations are strongly denied by the MCA.
After news of the exodus emerged this week, former volunteer Poole Coastguard Chris Smith - not one of the eight to walk out - said: "The fear is, as this team was one of the busiest in the country - providing cover for the international ferry port and the largest natural harbour in Europe - emergency cover is now compromised."
But MCA spokesman Mark Clark insists rescue abilities are unaffected by the walkout, with neighbouring coastguard stations picking up the slack.
He told the Echo: "We strongly deny accusations of bullying. We are sorry we were unable to work things out and we would like to thank the men for their years of service, but this is an isolated dispute and our rescue abilities have not been affected in the Poole area.
"We would like to thank them all for their years of service. It is unfortunate, but I think everyone concerned recognised there had been a breakdown in trust between all parties. We are fully committed to replacing all of them."
Problems between the volunteers and MCA bosses date back two years, when the auxiliary team, or Coastguard Rescue Officers, was 13-strong.
Mr Smith said: "I feel the only way to resolve this is for it to enter the public arena. There it may be viewed, as it should be, a public scandal that leaves thousands of water users in this area dangerously exposed."
7:00pm Wednesday 2nd July 2008
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CommentPosted by: john, Branksome on 11:52pm Thu 3 Jul 08
8 out of 12 leave? well this stinks of management inefficiency and possible interference from above. Why not report the full problem instead of half a story.
8 out of 12 leave? well this stinks of management inefficiency and possible interference from above. Why not report the full problem instead of half a story.
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