AROUND a third of the beaches normally patrolled by the RNLI in the South West will have a lifeguard service this summer.
The charity is making plans to reintroduce its normal seasonal patrols in anticipation of changes to the lockdown restrictions that may be announced by Government.
Usually, lifeguard patrols would have started around the coast in March, but this was paused due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Lifeguards are normally present at 90 beaches in the South West by the summer holiday time, including Seaton and Whitsand Bay in South East Cornwall.
At present, the RNLI has plans to resume the service and build it up so that patrols are being done on around 30 of the South West’s beaches by peak season this summer.
Beaches will be chosen based on risk and popularity, says the RNLI, and locations can’t yet be confirmed.
The charity will also look to achieve a geographical spread while making sure the service provided is flexible and sustainable enough to respond to what may be an ever-changing set of circumstances.
RNLI Chief Executive, Mark Dowie, said:‘We are planning for a service that we can adapt to changes in Government guidelines and restrictions. We don’t know whether people will be allowed to visit beaches, what social distancing restrictions will be in place, or whether we’ll have periods where restrictions are relaxed and then reintroduced.
‘The RNLI is incredibly proud of its highly skilled lifeguards who work alongside the charity’s volunteer lifeboat crews, HM Coastguard and other emergency services. RNLI lifeguards are professional lifesavers and will be essential when the lockdown is lifted and people head to our coastlines and enjoy our beautiful beaches.
‘The current situation means that the operational logistics and training behind setting up a lifeguard service – normally in full swing at the moment – have had to stop. Re-establishing this infrastructure and distributing equipment to beaches will take time. And we must also make sure that conditions are safe for our lifeguards to provide an effective service – our priority remains the safety of our people and the public.
‘But despite these challenges, and given enough notice of lockdown lifting, we’re hoping to put lifeguard patrols on around 70 beaches across the UK and Channel Islands.
As well as the logistical issues, the RNLI is also facing a financial challenge with a fall in fundraising income due to the pandemic.
But the charity says its focus is ’to work with the public to succeed in ensuring the coast is a safe place to visit when restrictions are lifted’.