FRESH hopes have emerged that Humber Coastguard's Bridlington station could escape Government cuts.
The Department For Transport is believed to have agreed to rethink plans to halve the size of the coastguard and cut the opening hours of those stations that remained.
It will allow more stations to be kept open, although it is not known how many or which ones could be saved.
Under the original plan being considered by the Government, Bridlington was to become part-time, with the loss of 22 jobs.
Night-time cover was to be provided by a "super centre" in the Solent, Dover or Aberdeen.
But Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has decided to redesign the planned overhaul in the face of fierce opposition.
It is not known if the new proposals will include a recommendation to keep Bridlington station open 24 hours a day.
The cuts at the Maritime And Coastguard Agency would have reduced the number of rescue stations along the 10,500 miles of British coastline from 19 to nine.
Staff at Humber Coastguard have been told not to discuss the development.
However, Dave Roberts, of Humber Rescue, which works closely with Humber Coastguard, has welcomed the rethink.
The charity, in Hessle Foreshore, has written to Mr Hammond to express its concerns about the lack of local knowledge that would result if rescues were co-ordinated hundreds of miles away.
Mr Roberts, whose crew is called out to emergencies by Humber Coastguard, said: "It's very good they are to review the plan.
"Hopefully, it will soon put an end to all this nonsense.
"The amount of local knowledge the guys in Bridlington have is invaluable.
"I was talking to some fishermen the other day in Withernsea. Nobody can believe the Government is talking about scrapping night cover. That is when the fishermen are out, especially in the summer months."
Final details of the reforms are due to be published before the summer recess.
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