Purbeck District Council has given the go ahead for new station that will house the town’s next lifeboat
Plans for a new RNLI lifeboat station in
Swanage have been approved by Purbeck District Council.
The charity submitted plans earlier this
year for a new boathouse to replace the existing building, becoming the home of
a 25 knot all-weather Shannon class lifeboat in 2016.
The new vessel, which offers improved speed
and maneuverability, will take the place of an all-weather Mersey class vessel
nearing the end of her operational life.
Due to the larger size of the Shannon class
lifeboat, it needed to be housed in a bigger station.
The brand new station will also offer better
facilities for the volunteer crew, including a changing room and shower room
and a fully-equipped crew training room.
The project is estimated to cost the RNLI
around £3.5m.
Swanage RNLI lifeboat operations manager
Neil Hardy, said: “We’re delighted that the plans have been approved and look
forward to an exciting new stage in the long and rich history of lifesaving in
Swanage.
“Although naturally we’ll be sad to say
goodbye to the current boathouse when the time comes, it’s time to look to the
future and the modern and upgraded facilities the new building will provide for
the volunteer crew.”
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