THE head of the coastguard service has vowed lives will not be put at risk if stations are forced to close.

Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey, chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, visited Walton coastguard station to discuss the controversial shake-up of services.

The cost-cutting proposals include scrapping the Walton station, as well as others across the country, and replacing them with 24-hour centres in Southampton, Aberdeen and Dover.

Coastguards have raised concerns that losing local knowledge could lead to lives being lost.

But Sir Alan said: “I would not dream of doing this if I believed it would lead to the loss of life.

“My job is to run an agency that is dedicated to safety. It is what we all focus on from the minute we get up in the morning, and I would never put people’s lives at risk when they use our coasts.

“I am aware of all the questions that have been raised at the public meetings, and all the worries are being logged as part of the consultation process.

“We are talking about the safety of lives at sea and it is a very serious issue, so of course any concerns will be taken seriously.

“We have looked very carefully at the situation, and we think the proposal represents the most logical way forward for us.”

Sir Alan said the changes would modernise the coastguards while saving the Government £120million over 25 years, but it is not yet a done deal.

He added: “For many years there has been a realisation that we do not need 18 individual centres manned all the time.

“With the Government trying to find savings everywhere, it has given us the push to finally put the ideas in motion.”

Tendring coastguard staff, who may lose their jobs as part of the process, have been protesting against the changes.

Sir Alan met them on and said they responded well to the meeting.

He added: “They are concerned about people’s safety, and I am very proud of them for always putting that first.

“I think they still have concerns about the proposals, but I hope I was able to reassure them.”

People can have their say on the proposals by visiting www.mcga.gov.uk