A NEW Coastwatch station planned for Llandudno’s West Shore was granted planning permission this week after councillors heard the facility could save lives.
Applicant Meurig Williams applied to Conwy’s planning department, seeking permission to replace the existing NCI (National Coastwatch Institution) station at the car park on West Parade, Llandudno.
Mr Williams sought permission for a material change of use of part of the existing car park to an NCI coast watch station.
The current station is considered ‘not fit for purpose’ and will be replaced with a new larger moveable portacabin after councillors backed the plans at the Bodlondeb meeting on Wednesday.
Speaking in favour of the application, Gary Fernandes said Llandudno NCI was an ‘asset of the coastguard’.
“As part of the marine emergency service, we work in partnership and are inter-dependent with the Coastguard, Search and Rescue Air Support, and the RNLI,” he said.
Mr Fernandes said the organisation ‘helped save lives at sea along the North Wales coastline’.
He added: “If we remove one of those services, it has a direct impact on the efficiency, the rescue capabilities, of the others. Llandudno NCI are the eyes of the marine services along the coastline. We spot and alert appropriate services for people who require assistance.
“We also have the capability to guide emergency services to the subject in quick time. This keeps risks to a minimum. West Shore is Conwy’s most at-risk area. It is an RNLI red zone. It has a higher rate of incidents than elsewhere in Conwy.
“The siting of the station in West Shore is therefore critical to the policing of this high-risk zone. Indeed, in the last six months, Llandudno NCI has been involved in seven marine incidents, which potentially could have resulted in injury or loss of life. In short, we have demonstrated our value.”
Mr Fernandes said the new station was slightly bigger and that the old one was no longer fit for purpose. He added that the new station would keep people safe in Llandudno.
Cllr Joe Nuttall proposed councillors backed the plans, and this was seconded by Cllr Alan Hunter.
He said: “If it saves just one life, it justifies everything we are sat here doing today.”
The committee voted unanimously in favour of the plans.
