Threat to Mountain Rescue

[hobbitboy]

Sorry if this has already been posted but it's important and if you've not signed it you really should. If you injure your self in the mountains/hills/woods/valleys it'll be these boys and girls responding!

Find info on it here.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7662989.stm
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/10/mountain_rescue_radio/
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/w...ster-blasts-rescue-radio-fees-91466-22061161/

Sign the petition here! for mountain rescue
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/MRT-RF-licences/

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

 

[Ben Trout]

First I've seen of it. Thanks for posting.

 

[BigShot]

Is this something worth contacting local MPs over? Or just a direct contact to Ofcom?

I've signed both petitions, but want to make sure I contact the right people at the start of next week.

Thanks very much for the link.

 

[Minotaur]

Just when you think the world cannot surprise you any more!

 

[Womble_Lancs]

Is this something worth contacting local MPs over?

Yes, definitely. However, please make sure that you only contact your own MP, not any others, because all they will do is forward it on to your own MP.

As a general tip, try to keep any letters or e-mails to MPs as brief and to-the-point as possible. Particularly with e-mails, if they are too long, they don't read them properly and tend to skip bits. One side of A4 is best when printed.

To contact your MP, use http://www.writetothem.com. It'll get straight to the right person, and the website administrators keep tabs on how many MPs respond too, and publish the stats at the end of the year.

 

[BigShot]

Cheers for the info Womble.
Have used the www.writetothem.com website before, pretty useful.

I'll get on the case of our local Camera ***** first thing on Monday. Maybe if I promise to take his photograph in front of radio tower he'll support this effort. Haha.

 

[Labrador]

Signed both!!!!!

 

[Dana Hawkeye]

In all seriousness, in my opinion it is about time that the 'volunteer' SAR organisations/teams were publicly funded and 'nationalised'.

 

[Womble_Lancs]

In all seriousness, in my opinion it is about time that the 'volunteer' SAR organisations/teams were publicly funded and 'nationalised'.

After speaking to our local MRT a couple of years ago, I put up a petition for Government funding for them. I mentioned the petition in several forums and a couple of other MRT members told me that whilst they would love more money, they were worried that if the MRTs were Government-funded, then the govt would put lots of unnecessary restrictions and regulations on them. They didn't want the govt to have too much control over them.

 

[Andyre]

Signed both.
Thanks for posting this

 

[scanker]

Cheers for posting. First I've heard of this.

 

[mortalmerlin]

Signed up, second one today, first was the Gurkha one. Number 3 will be the RNLI.

 

[Shambling Shaman]

Signed both!!!!!

Signed both!

 

[EdS]

After speaking to our local MRT a couple of years ago, I put up a petition for Government funding for them. I mentioned the petition in several forums and a couple of other MRT members told me that whilst they would love more money, they were worried that if the MRTs were Government-funded, then the govt would put lots of unnecessary restrictions and regulations on them. They didn't want the govt to have too much control over them.

Very true.

MRT in Scotland do get some funding form Scottish Parliament (wonder how pays the taxes for that?) but are contine as is/was.

Problem with it be Nationalised is that most of the volunteers will not "work" for the corporate body. Keeping the teams independent, with national agreements/idea etc via MRCS & MR(E&W), help keep a local idenity and therefore goodwill of landowners and locals.

For example even before you have a real situation general running and training can generate a lot disturbance for surrounding people and then you land owners OK to use land. Even of shouts they have no right of entry and require good will to use estate tracks etc.

Oh and there are a lot of changes going on relating to radios and coms. Incresed use of Tetra for a start

 

[rik_uk3]

Signed both, leave them as volunteer organisations please, they do a fantastic job, and as they say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

 

[hiraeth]

Signed both, leave them as volunteer organisations please, they do a fantastic job, and as they say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

Could not agree more, well said. signed up

 

[jojo]

I have added my name to it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I absolutely agree with that.

But I fear that's like a red rag to a bull for the authorities. They'll want to fix it because there is money to be made out of it. I am just a grumpy ol'man, and I hope I am absolutely wrong though.

 

[Chris G]

Both signed.

Chris

 

[wizzzard]

My 1st post on here.
I have signed up to both petitions.
I really do worry with the direction this country is heading. Profit appears to be more important than lives.

 

[EdS]

as much as I like to blow the trumpet for MRTs please don't forget ALSAR.

Especially if you live down south.

http://www.alsar.org.uk/