Politicians in Pembrokeshire have met with local campaigners in Milford Haven to discuss the best way forward to put a stop to the Westminster Government's proposals to close Milford Haven Coastguard Station.

Local campaigners have set-up a petition against the plans and Plaid AM Nerys Evans and Preseli Pembrokeshire candidate Rhys Sinnett have urged the residents of Pembrokeshire to sign up and send a clear message to the Conservative led Westminster Government that their closure plans are unacceptable.

They're also encouraging local residents to get in touch with their local elected Conservative politicians, including Simon Hart MP, Stephen Crabb MP, Angela Burns AM and Paul Davies AM.

West Wales AM Nerys Evans said: "I would urge people who are concerned about the saftey of our coastline to sign the petition so that we can send a clear message to the Westminster Government that their proposals to close Milford Haven Coastguard station are unacceptable to the people of Pembrokeshire.

"We are building a good strong local campaign and there is no doubt that there is a very strong feeling against these proposals .

"Many former workers at Milford station have joined the campaign and are making it quite clear that lives could be lost as a result of these reckless proposals."

She continued: "There is no doubt that our coastline will be left exposed to cover that will lack local knowledge as a result of these plans. It's difficult to understand why the Tory led government and their local MP's don't see that. It is beyond belief to think that during the night time any incidents will be dealt with from Southampton and that vital extra information that can only come from a detailed knowledge of the area will be lost."

Plaid's Preseli Pembrokeshire Candidate Rhys Sinnett added: "I would also urge local residents to write to their Conservative elected poiticians who usually have plenty to say, but have been very quiet on this issue.

"We can't let the Tory-Liberal Westminster government put our coastline at risk. We need to seriously ask what exactly are our local Tory MPs doing in London? How much influence do they have in these important decisions? It is clear from these decisions that they are London's voice in Pembrokeshire and not Pembrokeshire's voice in London."

For more information on how you can help with the campaign or where to sign the petition, please 'phone 01646 700 700 and ask to speak to somebody from the Save the Milford Haven Coastguard campaign.

Help us rescue the rescuers

Labour Assembly candidate Christine Gwyther has been talking to tourism chiefs and boat users as part of the campaign to keep Milford Haven coastguard operations centre open.

Current UK government proposals would close Milford Haven totally, and make the Mumbles in Swansea a part-time station. Night-time cover would come all the way from Southampton.

Richard Howells, chair of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, said, "When I raised the matter with members of the National Park Authority, they were unanimous that we needed to urgently draw attention to the potential loss of the Milford Haven operations centre. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park has tens of thousands of visitors each year. It is the United Kingdom's only coastal National Park and home to the major European port of Milford Haven. I have lived in Pembrokeshire all my life and been associated with coastal tourism all my working life. Local knowledge is indispensable and we must protect it."

Christine said: "We are fighting the closure of the operations centre because it would mean losing our unique local knowledge of the waters around Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. Local tourism chiefs and also boat users are furious that the government is even considering taking away our local coastguard centre. Aside from small boat users we have crude oil carriers and LNG tankers, as well as major ferry routes to the Republic of Ireland.

"Please join our campaign. There will be a peaceful protest next Tuesday, February 15, at noon, on the Rath in Milford Haven, gathering at the Bandstand. It will mark the 15th anniversary of the Sea Empress disaster. By unhappy coincidence, it is also the day when Vice Admiral Alan Massey is coming to tell the staff they will be losing their jobs. If you would like to get involved in the campaign, please ring the hotline on 01437 700700, or sign the online petition on facebook - Save-Milford-Haven-Coastguard.

"This issue concerns us all. This time, it is the rescuers who need to be rescued."