Morecambe was the venue for a training exercise to ensure key organisations from across the north west are better prepared for potential pollution incidents.
Members of the Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF) took part in a Beachmasters training course held in the resort with staff from Lancaster, Wyre and Blackpool councils joining forces with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to undertake training which would ensure key staff were better prepared to protect our coastline and environment if they were ever needed.
Neil Chapman from the MCA said: “The day was an opportunity for local authorities and other government agencies to attend training which gave them the chance to think about what would happen in the event of a large-scale pollution incident.
“There have been incidents on this coastline in recent years, and this training ensures agencies are better prepared to respond more effectively to such events while ensuring they make the best use of the resources that might be needed in an incident.
“Part of the training involved getting hands on experience of some of the different types of equipment that deal with various types of oil pollution, and this proved really beneficial.’’
Kirstie Banks-Lyon from Lancaster City Council helped organise the event.
She said: “The training was to give professionals the knowledge they need to assist in any shoreline clearance should we have the misfortune of having an oil spill in Lancashire.
“The day went particularly well, and the delegates picked up lots of knowledge and useful ideas to take away with them.’’
Neil Williams, chair of the LRF Coastal and Maritime Incidents group, said the session was a great opportunity for colleagues to train in operational elements of the Marine Coastal Pollution Plan that is in place for Lancashire.
He said: “I would like to thank the Maritime Coastguard Agency’s Counter Pollution Branch for their support in providing the course to those who would need to respond in Lancashire.
“I would also like to thank Lancaster City Council for hosting the training.’’
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