The Comhairle, which played a leading role in the fight to save Stornoway Coastguards, warns that it would be equally unacceptable to get rid of the coastguard tugs around the Western Isles.
Council leader Angus Campbell was delighted when news of the coastguard reprieve was announced today.
He said: “This is excellent news. I would pay tribute to the Minister for listening carefully to the case the community of the Outer Hebrides has made and for allowing common sense to prevail.
“Together with our friends in Shetland we outlined the obvious argument that to lose either Coastguard Station would be to unacceptably increase the risk to maritime users and our precious environment.
“The case was clear and unambiguous and the option of closing either Shetland or Stornoway Coastguard Station should never have been on the table in the first place. “
Mr Campbell added: “I would pay tribute to the Coastguard staff and volunteers who have remained dignified at all times in this process. It is to their credit that they have eloquently made their case in sometimes difficult circumstances. They are valued members of our communities. I would also pay tribute to the wider community of the Outer Hebrides. Seldom have I seen a cause which has so united the people of the islands. “
He said: “Thanks are also due to the members of the Outer Hebrides Coastguard Task Group who worked tirelessly to demonstrate the folly of the MCA proposals but equally as importantly, provided an alternative, and better, set of proposals. Our MP and MSP also deserve credit for their work in the Scottish and UK Parliaments. It really has been a team effort and it has paid off.
Mr Campbell stressed: “Whilst I am glad that this threat to our Coastguard service has been seen off, the issue of the loss of the Emergency Towing Vehicles (ETVs) remains. I am confident we can find an alternative means of financing the ETVs – if we are given time.
“I would implore the Minster, who has shown he is open to common sense on the Coastguard debate, to extend the contract for the tugs for an additional 6 months to allow us to work on an alternative means of finance.
“That cannot be asking too much given the serious increased risk that the loss of the tugs will create. Indeed, it is plain common sense.”
Fight continues to retain emergency tugs 14/7/11
Angus Campbell gives the thumbs up to the reprieve of Stornoway coastguards