Eastbourne's new lifeboat station plans sunk

Plans for a new lifeboat station in Eastbourne have been put on hold after the RNLI raised fears the proposed building would not be fit for purpose.
Eastbourne Lifeboats SUS-140109-103556001Eastbourne Lifeboats SUS-140109-103556001
Eastbourne Lifeboats SUS-140109-103556001

The station, which was recently named the busiest in the South East, was expected to be rebuilt in order to house both the all-weather and inshore lifeboats in the same building.

Plans to replace the RNLI’s current station in Sovereign Harbour were approved by Eastbourne Borough Council in November 2014.

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But the RNLI say the approved plans are no longer appropriate as the charity now wants to build meeting and education spaces at all its stations.

This comes as the national charity places an increased emphasis on preventing loss of life through education.

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’.

In response 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.

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A spokesman for the RNLI said, “All this has had a direct impact on Eastbourne Lifeboat Station.

“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.”

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