RNLI Petition

[Russell 0]

If anyone is interested in signing this petition the RNLI would be very grateful.

 

The link is at the end of the message.

 

For info/action. Please forward to anyone you think might help by signing the petition.

 

The background:

 

RADIOS BILL MAY SCUPPER RNLI

 

LIFEBOAT crews fear being scuppered by crippling new charges for using their radios from Ofcom, the communications regulator. The RNLI could see the price of using its VHF emergency frequencies rise to £250,000 under plans to charge the full commercial rate.

 

The charity, which saves hundreds of lives every year currently pays an annual £48,000 at a discounted rate of 50 per cent. It relies on donations and fears the move will have a disastrous impact on fundraising. Peter Bradley, RNLI operations staff officer, said: 'It's a lot of money when you think in terms of lifeboat days and little old ladies collecting pound coins.'

 

'We could buy several inshore lifeboats for the same amount.'

 

'The Government rely on us to provide this search-and-rescue service, at a cost of £124 million a year, but they want to charge us for doing it!'

 

Ofcom has set out plans to bring 'market forces' into maritime and civil aviation communications in a policy it calls Administered Incentive Pricing.

 

£250,000 represents an awful lot of charity collections, even more so in the current economic climate so, if like me you feel strongly enough about this, please sign the petition below.

 

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/RNLI-RF-licences/

Petition to: Protect the RNLI from paying licence fees for using Maritime radio frequencies. | Number10.gov.uk

[Malt 379]

Signed mate.

I live in a seaside town, and many generations of my family have served on the towns lifeboat. It's a p*sstake that they are expected to do what the do on a voluntary basis, and to think that the government are actually charging them for doing what they do, makes my blood boil.

[SportingShooter 0]

Signed and dated with an X

 

I live in a Seaside town also, and there are two lifeboats within 10 miles of each other due to the treacherous coastline.

 

Having seen the conditions you get around here and seen the lifeboats go out in it, to try to charge them ANYTHING for the service they provide, to me, is downright hypocrisy! If the Chairman of Ofcom wanted to be saved from a sinking fishing boat, who would he call out? The RNLI.

 

Makes my blood boil when these people risk life and limb for nothing and then are expected to pay for the privilege.

 

SS

[ginga john 268]

signed