Whilst maintaining its core function of saving lives at sea, the RNLI in a recently announced initiative is placing increasing emphasis on the prevention of loss of life around the shores of the UK
Research has shown that in recent years many lives have been lost or serious injuries sustained in non boating incidents around our coast such as coastal walking, diving, angling and ‘tomb-stoning’. To reduce this toll the RNLI have embarked on a campaign entitled ‘Respect the Water’ bringing coastal safety to the community by way of promoting awareness, supplying information and education. The aim is to expand the scope of lifeboat stations around the country to make them more community based to include meeting and education space and as a hub for local life saving activities.
All this has had a direct impact on Eastbourne Lifeboat Station. Plans have already been approved to replace the existing building at Sovereign Harbour with a new facility to incorporate the all weather lifeboat ‘Diamond Jubilee’ along with the inshore lifeboat ‘Laurence and Percy Hobbs’. Planning restraints meant that there would be insufficient space in the new building to achieve the latest community life saving requirements and it was feared that the new build might be considered ‘not fit for purpose’ before it was even built. It has been decided therefore to put a temporary hold on the project pending a further review. Retaining the current all-weather lifeboat at Sovereign Harbour remains the station’s top priority.
