Video: RNLI in limbo at Birnbeck Pier

03 September 2009

VOLUNTEER lifesavers in Weston admit they are looking for a new home - after a mystery buyer snapped up their base.

RNLI chiefs say they are in the dark about who has bought Birnbeck Pier and have been looking at other places to set up base.

In August, the Mercury revealed pier owner, Urban Splash, had accepted an offer from an un-named party.

RNLI divisional inspector Adrian Carey said: "We don't know who has bought it, but we had an understanding with the previous owners, Urban Splash.

"Hopefully we can continue with that understanding.

"In order to safeguard the long-term future of the RNLI in Weston we need the new owners to continue to have an arrangement with us.

"We have a good relationship with Urban Splash and I would like to think they would tell us what was happening before there was a public announcement."

But despite his optimism, Mr Carey has admitted to looking at other places to house the lifeboats, in case the base has to move.

He said: "We have been looking at other sites, but I cannot reveal where we have been looking. Suffice to say, we would still want to be based in Weston.

"To find a new site would require a bit of planning and investment.

"There is a whole bunch of criteria to consider. The lifeboat would have to be somewhere suitable to launch into the sea at all times, and there are very few places where this can happen.

"It also has to be easily accessible for the crew to get down to.

"We would be irresponsible if we weren't looking at other sites."

If the RNLI was to remain at its base at Birnbeck, major work would be needed.

The charity has recently installed a new slipway on the north side of the island, so boats can be launched in high and low tide.

But the boardwalk has large holes in the planks of wood and because the boats are housed outside, rather than in a sheltered boathouse, the vessels are exposed to the elements more.

Mr Carey said: "Having the equipment outside is not ideal in terms of maintenance.

"Our primary function is being able to get a lifeboat in the sea 24/7, and we can do that, but the maintenance costs are higher."

The divisional inspector, who came to visit the RNLI base last week, also said that the Weston crew is working in the worst conditions in his patch - an area which spans the south of England right down to the Channel Islands.

He added: "The crew here are working in the most challenging day-to-day conditions. If we were to stay we would hope to see some improvements as we work out of one room and use one PC.