Letter: Rethink needed

The recent rescue of the Tornado crew off Wester Ross (your reports) highlights the lunacy of the proposed ConDem government coastguard station cuts.

The rescue was co-ordinated from RAF Kinloss, which is to close under the cuts, saw a rescue helicopter from Stornoway take part, whose station is threatened with closure, and involved a tug boat service, which is also being removed from service.

The proposed closure of the Forth and Clyde Coastguard stations, and for either Shetland or Stornoway to provide daylight cover, will leave Scotland with only one full-time Coastguard station, at Aberdeen, covering more than 6,000 miles of shoreline.

The drive for budget cuts is therefore a false economy with the impact it will have on safety. In addition, jobs and considerable experience will be lost, with a major impact on many already fragile communities.

The UK government must reconsider this damaging move and a cross-party, cross-council, consensus must be garnered north of the Border to fight these proposals.

ALEX ORR

Leamington Terrace

Edinburgh