RNLI confirm new lifeboat for South Harris 3/11/11
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has approved the trial operation of a new lifeboat station on South Harris.
The proposed location is at Leverburgh, adjacent to the Sound of Harris where an
all-
The new lifeboat station will improve the operational lifeboat cover between RNLI stations in Stornoway and Barra, which are 135 miles apart, and Portree. The date for the start of the trial has not yet been set.
The trial was approved yesterday by the RNLI’s Trustees and follows a recommendation
from the charity’s Operations Committee, which reviewed the provision of RNLI lifeboats
in the area and concluded there was a strong operational case for locating an additional
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In recent years the RNLI received representations from the South Harris Community Council, which has campaigned for a lifeboat to be based in the Sound of Harris for some time.
Volunteers are already coming forward to crew the Mersey class lifeboat, operate the station and raise funds for the station’s operating costs.
Michael Vlasto, the RNLI’s Operations Director, said: ‘I am delighted that the RNLI’s Trustees have agreed to this trial and look forward to improving our lifesaving capacity in the challenging shallows waters of the Sound of Harris, the Minch and around the Outer Hebrides.'
Paul Jennings, the RNLI’s Divisional Inspector in Scotland, said, ‘We have been looking
at this idea for some time. This decision is about us providing a level of support
to an exposed and isolated community where the casualty potential warrants the establishment
of an all-
Paul Jennings will be visiting Leverburgh on 7th November when the community will have the opportunity to meet and talk about the plans.