ePetition - STOP Brighton & Hove council closing essential lifeguard services on our beaches.

Last year alone, our lifeguards were involved in:
79,000 preventative interventions on our beaches
92 major incidents
38 water incidents (one every 4 days during lifeguard season)
11 mental health related incidents
46 LIVES WERE SAVED (one every 8 days during lifeguard season) including sea rescues, CPR and critical care.

The proposed cuts of £100,000 by Brighton Council will disproportionately cut services to our residents’ family beaches, including Kemp Town beach (yellow wave), the West Pier beach and Hove lagoon.

Family beaches will bear the brunt of closures. The youngest and oldest in society, the less able and weaker swimmers, mainly our children, will be at most risk.

It is highly likely that West Hove, Saltdean, Rottingdean and Ovingdean will see NO lifeguard service in 2023 if the council plans are allowed to pass unchallenged.

Only 4 lifeguard stations are predicted to open in May (down from 7) if the proposed cuts are passed by the council on Feb 23rd.

Brighton Pier, Albion Beach, West Street and King Alfred are reprieved for this year, but beachfront managers fear further station closures are likely in the near future as the service is viewed by the council as “nonessential” despite council papers warning of an “potential increased risk to public safety”.

A lifeguard is viewed as ‘nonessential’ until you need a lifeguard, to save a life, then it’s vitally important.

Proposals will in particular adversely affect Hove residents who stand to lose 66% of last year’s service. Most beach users and hut owners won’t have a service to rely on.

Lifeguard managers know the withdrawal of lifeguards will significantly increase the danger of drowning because vital preventative advice, and early detection & reaction will be lost. Seafront managers dispute claims that similar size beach resorts are run in the same way. Bournemouth for example, is planning 10 lifeguard stations in 2023, Brighton beaches are significantly busier.

Managers fear a tragic event like Camber Sands in which 5 people drowned following poorly considered lifeguard withdrawal on cost grounds.

These cuts will also be devastating to the people who will lose their jobs, some of whom have served our community for over thirty years - taking with them a wealth of life saving experience.

Brighton and Hove beaches are the reason most people come to our wonderful city. They are the bedrock of our tourism industry. We want the public to be well looked after, informed, but above all safe.

Please sign our petition to ‘Save Our Savers’ and retain the much-valued beach lifeguard service.

This ePetition ran from 12/02/2023 to 29/03/2023 and has now finished.

307 people signed this ePetition.