Beach patrols service offer by the RNLI

Representatives from RNLI headquarters in England travelled to Coleraine on Wednesday night to address members of Coleraine Council's Leisure and Environment Committee.

RNLI Lifeguard Inspector Matt Horton explained to councillors that they had already carried out a risk audit on seven beaches in the area - Benone, Downhill, Castlerock, West and East Strands, Whiterocks and Portstewart.

He advised that the RNLI could provide a lifeguard service on these beaches but the package would have to include all seven in order to make it feasible for the RNLI.

This would mean Council agreeing to work in partnership with Limavady District Council who look after Benone beach and the Nation Trust which oversees Portstewart Strand.

Mr Horton said that the RNLI would provide training and equipment for all lifeguards as well as administration back-up, PR and media safety assistance.

He also added that the RNLI package would include providing extra hours of lifeguard cover at no extra cost in the event of sunny days when people stayed on the beaches longer into the evening or at large events such as the annual Air Show.

Lifeguard Services manager Lee Fisher said that the RNLI would ask Coleraine Council for a contribution equal to the seasonal bill for lifeguards patrolling the beaches

He said that equated to 10,000 patrol hours which came to around 103,000 per annum.

However, he added, the RNLI recognised that this is a difficult financial time for local authorities so had agreed to reduce the bill to 80% of the expense that he RNLI would incur.

Therefore the bill to Coleraine Council would be 82,500 - which, he said, would go a long way towards paying the RNLI wage bill.

Mr Fisher added that because the RNLI provide all their own equipment, this would allow Coleraine Council to dispose of its existing equipment in order to claw back some revenue that way.

Councillors were told that Limavady Council and the National Trust had already met with the RNLI and had agreed in principle to use their services in 2011.

The agreement now hangs on Coleraine deciding whether they wish to be part of the package of services.

He also added that the RNLI would require a letter of intent by the end of May in order to begin preparations and that Council would have to agree to being tied into a five year deal with the Institution.

There was widespread support for the presentation from the RNLI among Committee members. The matter will be discussed at the full Council meeting at the end of this month for decision.