THE lives of people using Preston's marina will be put at risk if the Liverpool coastguard station is closed, council chiefs have warned.

Plans to shut the coastguard sub-station at Crosby in 2001, have already met with strong opposition from the county council, and now the borough council is backing their objections.

Council officers fear the closure, part of a government cost-cutting exercise, will result in a lack of local knowledge of the area's coastline. And that, they claim, could be a recipe for disaster when pleasurecraft sailors ask for assistance to get through the complex Ribble Estuary.

An environmental disaster could also be on the cards, according to a report presented to the council's property and finance sub-committee.

A council spokesman said: "The plan is for all coastguard issues to be dealt with at Holyhead, instead of the Crosby sub-station, which looks after 700 miles of coast.

"Currently local knowledge is invaluable in helping people through the complex Ribble Estuary. But that information will be lost if everything is transferred to Holyhead and that will put small craft using the estuary at risk because it's such a complex stretch of water.

"Any spillages from the Liverpool Bay oil fields carry up towards the estuary and the only thing which prevents it affecting this area is the quick response of the Crosby coastguards and their excellent local knowledge. That will be lost if they close."

The council is now urging the Government to reconsider its proposal and give in to the overwhelming support for the Crosby sub-station.

The spokesman added: "When someone gets lost on the estuary, the coastguard organises the search.

"We can't stress the importance of local knowledge in such searches because it is marshy and the water courses in the area are complicated."

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is looking into the possibility of reversing the closure.

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