An edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ that looks at the changes and implication to the restructuring of Her Majesties (HM) Coastguards. With the opening of the Tyne Tees Marine Rescue Sub-Centre at Tynemouth many of the Coastguard stations and lookouts along the Northeast coast from Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north and Ravenscar in the south are being closed or downgraded with responsibility transferred to Tynemouth. However, there are concerns from many...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television current affairs programme ‘Briefing’ that looks at the changes and implication to the restructuring of Her Majesties (HM) Coastguards. With the opening of the Tyne Tees Marine Rescue Sub-Centre at Tynemouth many of the Coastguard stations and lookouts along the Northeast coast from Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north and Ravenscar in the south are being closed or downgraded with responsibility transferred to Tynemouth. However, there are concerns from many who work along the coastline and at sea that these changes could put lives in danger. Title: Tyne Tees Title: Briefing From a studio in London presenter Ian Breach introduces this edition of Briefing which will look at a public service that has protected this island nation for centuries, HM Coastguards and comprehensive reorganisation that is taking place within the service following the introduction of new communication technologies, government cuts to the civil service as well as recommendation in a report following the Penlee lifeboat disaster of 1981. A map showing the Northeast coastline from Berwick in the North to Sunderland in the south featuring thirteen Coastguard stations. The map expands out to show the new area of the region covered by the Coastguard service reaching as far south as Ravenscar and including the Tees Estuary. The waves of the North Sea crashing around cliffs, above on the cliffs the mast of a Coastguard station and a cargo ship being bounced around in choppy waters. In the grounds of Tynemouth Priory the newly completed Tyne Tees Marine Rescue Sub-Centre. Inside two of the three Coastguards on duty with one working a radio set while the other marking up a maritime map. The Coastguard station at South Gare at the mouth of the River Tees, on the water a cargo ship entering the estuary. Radio and weather equipment atop masts that form part of the station. Near to the station interview with Jim Tinn Labour MP for Redcar about the lack of consolation with local interests on the river about the downgrading of the service. He believes the Tees should be a special case because of the many ships that use the river to transport hazardous cargos such as petrochemicals. As he speaks another cargo vessel entering the estuary. River Tees Pilot Michael Irving pulls up along a quayside aboard the pilot boat White Force. He climbs off the boat and climbs a ladder onto a concrete quayside. He explains to Ian Breach that the river is becoming increasingly busy with a vast number of dangerous cargo ships. He is disappointed that the operation has been moved to Tynemouth as there are a lot of people that need watching. Returning to Jim Tinn, he doesn’t believe the changes at South Gare are being made for efficiencies rather cost cutting. Ray Little District Controller of the Tyne Tees Marine Rescue Sub-Centre works with a colleague to conduct a regular inspection of equipment, he loads and test fires a flare gun. Ian Breach explains that Ray Little was meant to speak to Briefing about his concerns about the changes taking place within the Coastguard service, but this permission was withdrawn at the last minute. On the cliffs above Whitby the southern most Coastguard station still to have a regular Coastguard. Inside interview with Craig Allison Whitby Section Officer who explains that his role covering the coast from Redcar to Ravenscar. His concerns with the move from manpower to the use of machines means a loss in local knowledge. Farmers Geoff and Elizabeth White of Bent Rigg Farm near Ravenscar stand beside the farm gate chatting with an older man and two younger ones. Beside the auxiliary lookout station near his farm Geoff climbs out of his van and heads inside. Sitting at his post where he and his wife both work as Auxiliary Coastguard he talks about his job which has earned him a British Empire Medal. As he talks a montage of rough seas around the station at Ravenscar and from the cliffs overlooking Whitby harbour. Again, Geoff talks about the importance of local knowledge that saves lives. Just outside Ravenscar a building housing equipment for the local Coastguard station. Inside Elizabeth White talks about rescues where this equipment has been used, however due to the cutbacks she has been told it is no longer needed. She shows Ian Breach new lights which have been provided, but she explains they don’t come with batteries. She has also been given a megaphone, but as Ian Breach points out she won’t be able to see anything in the dark. Both Geoff and Elizabeth White talk about their time working for the Coastguard service with Geoff explaining they don’t get the same kind of recognition as they once had which he sees as a retrograde step. He also doesn’t believe those at the top level of the service understand that auxiliaries like him are now totally responsible to complete rescues. Title: End of Part One Part Two From Whitby Jetty the town in the distance at the other end of the pier and rough seas crashing against the harbour wall. Three local fishermen stand chatting beside a stack of lobster pots near the marina off New Quay Road. On the water nearby several trawlers moored up. Trawler Skippers Arnold Locker and Paul Barker believes the Coastguard service has been very poor since the station moved to Tynemouth, they provide details on a recent incident in which local trawlermen were able to direct the lifeboat to rescue a coble boat at sea. They see’s this job as being for the local Coastguard and not local trawlermen. As one of the men talks about the problems dealing with the Coastguard station at Tynemouth a cargo ship enters Whitby Harbour. Inside the Tyne Tees Marine Rescue Sub-Centre at Tynemouth a Coastguard takes a radio message from a fishing boat near Whitby who has seen a red rescue flare. This rescue exercise is captured by the Tyne Tees film crew with Coastguard liaising with the Lifeboat at Whitby which heads out into rough seas. From the cliffs at Whitby the Coastguard station, inside Auxiliary Coastguards Pat Richardson and Norman Barnard explain that their hours have been cut down as more work is being taken on by the station at Tynemouth. They would like to do more and feel they could have dealt with some incidents more quickly. Back at the Tyne Tees Marine Rescue Sub-Centre at Tynemouth Commander Peter Warrington Regional Controller HM Coastguard explains to Ian Breach that there haven’t been any cuts in manpower for regular Coastguards. He believes the public need to better understand the new modern Coastguard service. Back at Whitby the lifeboat returns following the exercise. Pete Thomson Coxswain of the Whitby Lifeboat explains to Ian Breach why he believes the Coastguard service hasn’t improved because of the changes that have taken place. He repeats the story told previously by the local trawlermen about a coble being in trouble and it was them rather than the Coastguard who were able to assist the lifeboat. He sees the ‘gearing down’ to a part-time status of the Whitby lookout leaves gaps which is unacceptable. Les Heath Honorary Secretary for the Whitby Lifeboat would like to press the service to return the lookout station to its previous service as it is putting lives in danger. Both Peter and Les talk about the good relationship between Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and HM Coastguard and they don’t want to create a rift but want to see the Whitby Coastguard with a degree of importance as they believe it should have as a lookout and an operation station. Back at Tynemouth Commander Peter Warrington explains the purpose of these changes is to bring the three districts into line comparable to numbers of casualties as well as to control the Tyne Tees district properly. He doesn’t see any of the restructuring take places as impeding the work the service does. On the wall a large white board for the Tyne Tees District marked up with details with the sound in the background of a phone calls being made to the Coastguard stations at Berwick-upon-Tweed, Blyth, Sunderland and Whitby with automated messages stating the offices are now unmanned. Returning to Ian Breach in the London studio he leads a discussion about the issues and criticisms raised in the report with Lieutenant Commander J.T. Fetherstone Dilke the Chief Coastguard, David Mitchell MP Junior Minister for the Department of Transport and Tom Hoynes Assistant General Secretary of the Civil Service Union. Ian Breach brings the discussion and the episode to a close. Credit: Presenter Ian Breach Film Cameras Eddie Crooks, Dave Leeder Sound Ian Richardson Editor Peter Telford Research Mike Jordan Political Editor John Sleight Film Director Bernard Preston Studio Directors James Goldby, Tony Kysh Producer Bob Farnworth End credit: Tyne Tees Colour. © Tyne Tees Television Ltd. MCMLXXXIII