Plans for new Margate RNLI lifeboat station delayed
The RNLI has announced it has withdrawn the current planning application for permission to build a new lifeboat station in Margate.
The proposed build is needed to house a Shannon class lifeboat, the latest class in the RNLI fleet, one of which has been allocated for Margate.
The RNLI has engaged in years of negotiations with various interested parties – including Thanet District Council and Kent County Council – and in the past all parties had indicated they would support a new station on that site.
However, following more recent discussion, it became apparent that the beach site is no longer supported by various parties, which led to a recommendation from the council’s Planning Officer to its Planning Committee that the application be refused.
Chris Refoy, Chief Engineer for the RNLI, said: ‘The RNLI has decided to withdraw the current planning application for a replacement lifeboat station in Margate and will now work on a second application that will be submitted as soon as possible.
‘As a result of thorough site investigations of the Kent coastline, we considered Margate Sands the best and preferred site for a replacement lifeboat station, and over the last four years we have been working closely with Thanet District Council and Kent County Council, who indicated strong support for our plans throughout.
‘However, since submitting our planning application it has become apparent that the beach site is no longer supported by various parties, which led to a recommendation from the council’s Planning Officer to its Planning Committee that the application be refused. We have however received positive encouragement from the Planning Officer’s report, and this combined with a report produced by the council’s preferred design advisers, will be useful in informing the next stage of our work to build the new lifeboat station in Margate.
‘A number of fatalities around the UK coastline over the summer highlight a clear need for the RNLI’s lifesaving operations, and we remain committed to building a new lifeboat station to facilitate launch and recovery of a new Shannon class lifeboat, and to house the accompanying inshore lifeboat and our beach lifeguard service.
‘We would like to thank Thanet District Council for their input to date, and look forward to working with TDC and other stakeholders as we progress our new plans.’
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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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