A new coastwatch station has been inaugurated in Cleethorpes as a response to the increased incidents occurring along the Lincolnshire coastline. Based adjacent to the Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, the station is staffed by volunteers from the National Coastwatch charity.
The local RNLI branch in Cleethorpes has disclosed that their crews have already been deployed 37 times this year, representing a rise of roughly a third from the typically expected figures for this period of the summer season. The deputy chairman of National Coastwatch, Ian Whalley MBE, emphasised that Cleethorpes, in conjunction with the broader Lincolnshire coast, have been recognised as points of critical incident frequency.
The establishment in Cleethorpes is the fourth coastwatch station on the Lincolnshire coast, supplementing existing locations at Chapel Point, Mablethorpe, and Skegness. This newly introduced station is intended to diminish the incident count by enabling trained volunteers to perform daily monitoring and report any coastal safety hazards to HM Coastguard. Whalley cited a rise in visitors to the area following lockdown, underscoring both the allure and potential perils of the coastal region.
Recent incidents comprise a situation on Monday where a Coastguard helicopter was needed to rescue five individuals after they miscalculated the tide. Numerous incidents deal with individuals getting stranded due to incoming tides or necessitating rescue owing to offshore winds. The National Coastwatch charity was established in Cornwall in 1994 and presently manages 61 stations across the country populated by thoroughly trained volunteer watchkeepers.
This article has been adapted by The Lincoln Post from the original report by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
