Support Your Local Coastwatch!

2.37.00pm GMT Tue 12th Dec 2006

Toby Philpott on watch at the National Coastwatch Institution station at Copt Point in Folkestone

Toby Philpott, Shepway Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman, was invited to see for himself at first hand the work of the National Coastwatch Institution station at Copt Point in Folkestone on Friday 8th December.

Having grown up in the harbour area and remembering the work of the Coastguard and others in search and rescue operations off the coast at Folkestone Toby was delighted to have the opportunity to see at first hand the vital work of the NCI station which replaced the former Coastguard station that was closed down after Tory funding cuts in 1994.

Regional Manager Mike Pain and Station Manager Mr. Bev Sheppard introduced Toby to the operations of the station and explained to him how the NCI operates on a trained volunteer basis providing a watch around various points on the British coast from morning through to sundown.

The NCI is also a charity like the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and relies upon donations from the public and local businesses. Several local businesses have been kind enough to provide work on the current station premises at reduced or no cost.

On his visit Toby said:

"The work of the volunteers at the NCI at Folkestone is vitally important to ensure the safety of all sea users, be they local fishermen, the crew of ships using the major English Channel sea lanes or tourists in the summer. Without them I am certain that lives would be lost at sea. I hope that the local community will appreciate the work that the Institution does and will consider joining as volunteers or helping the NCI through donations to keep the local station open and this vital work going".

The NCI can be contacted either on: (01303) 840013 or at tony@powellprint.co.uk

Further information can be found at the NCI website - http://www.nci.org.uk/Stations/nci_folkestone.htm