Debate over lifeguards' funding

A north Cornwall councillor is urging the government to help fund the area's lifeguards after the council agreed to pay for extra beach patrols.

The district council will pay £4,800 per day for extra patrols over the Easter holidays. It has already given the RNLI £300,000 so far this year.

But Linda Spears said it was unfair for Cornwall residents to pay extra.

The government said the provision of beach safety services was at the discretion of local authorities.

When are the government going to help us to do things for the country? Councillor Spears

Figures from the RNLI show that 25m people have visited the seaside at least once so far this year - an increase of 30% on 2005, with Cornwall being one of the most popular areas.

The council pays lifeguards' wages, while the RNLI pays for equipment. But Ms Spears said Cornish residents already paid unfairly for water facilities and an air ambulance.

"We are trying to keep tourism in this country and to help the economy of this country, so surely the government can help us to do that?" she said.

Climate change

RNLI national lifeguard manager Peter Dawes said more patrols were needed to provide cover during what was becoming an extended summer season which most people put down to climate change.

Lifeguards currently patrol beaches from May to September.

The decision to provide extra funding for Harlyn, Polzeath, Widemouth, Constantine and Summerleaze beaches over Easter was agreed at a meeting on Monday.

"I think it's a great decision to support life guarding at Easter," said Cornwall lifeguard manager Steve Instance.

"There are incidents happening all over the place, people are still using our beaches in mass numbers."

"If you look at the weather we've had over this weekend, we've had flood warnings everywhere due to the heavy rain, yet lifeguards at Penryn Port have been pulling people out of the water left, right and centre."