The RNLI’s (Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s) new lifeboat station in Bridlington is under construction on Spa Promenade in the town.
Work to realign the sea wall and increase the width of Princess Mary Promenade has been completed and phase two of the project has begun.
The new Art Deco style building will replace the charity’s current lifeboat station on South Marine Drive which is too small and outdated for the RNLI’s needs. The new boathouse should be finished in spring 2017.
The two-storey building will offer the extra space required to house Bridlington’s new state-of-the-art Shannon class lifeboat and launch vehicle*. This means that they will be able to remain coupled together when not in use, thus speeding up the launch process when the crew is called out on a life-saving mission.
Chris Brompton, Bridlington RNLI’s station mechanic, said:
“Our volunteer crew is very excited that the building work has started and that our fantastic new station is gradually becoming a reality. The current all-weather lifeboat station has served us well since 1903 but the new boathouse will provide the town’s next generation of lifesavers with much more space and the proper training and changing facilities that they deserve.
“Crucially, the building’s location, adjacent to the beach, will mean that the lifeboat will no longer need to be taken along the main road to reach the sea but will have quicker and more direct access to the water. The extra space will also mean that the charity’s inshore and all-weather lifeboats can be housed in the same building, as currently the inshore lifeboat is stored separately on Princess Mary Promenade.”
Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:
“The council fully supports the life-saving work of the RNLI and it is pleasing to see that work on the second phase of this exciting new project has started.
“When complete, the new Art Deco style building will be in keeping with neighbouring buildings, including The Spa Bridlington, and will also be home to the RNLI’s new state-of-the-art lifeboat that will help them with their operations off the Holderness coast.”
The station will house a mechanic’s workshop, an RNLI store and a viewing area so that the public can see the Shannon class lifeboat. There will also be space for RNLI lifeguards to store their equipment and a display area for the charity to hold exhibitions about its lifesaving work.
Malton-based contractor Scothern Construction Ltd is building the new lifeboat station.
[Source: Yourkshine Coast Radio]
