Concerns over the potential loss of the Coastguard station at Milford Haven have been raised directly with both Cheryl Gillan the Secretary of State for Wales and Mike Penning the Shipping Minister by Angela Burns Assembly Member for Carmarthen West & South Pembrokeshire and Nick Bourne leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.
Mr Bourne met with Mike Penning on Monday and went through in detail his concerns over the loss of jobs, the security and safety issues associated with the Haven, the overall reduction in numbers for the Maritime Agency and concerns over the loss of local knowledge.
On the same day Mrs Burns accompanied the Secretary of State on her visit to Pembrokeshire and raised her concerns and those of the SOS Milford Haven campaign group. Mrs Burns said “at the rally on the Rath I promised to meet Mike Penning to ensure he understood our total opposition to the closure of the Coastguard station at Milford Haven.
As luck had it that meeting in Westminster was the same day I was escorting the Secretary of State on her visit to the main Energy companies on the Haven so Nick Bourne and I decided to take the opportunity to raise our concerns with both of them. We had very good meetings and I can honestly say that the voices of the people of Pembrokeshire have been heard loud and clear in Westminster”
Nick Bourne added “the consultation process has been extended which is good news and I will be pressing the Minister to take into account the special circumstances of the Haven”.
