BS: RNLI petition

Subject: BS: RNLI petition
From: Emma B
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 06:28 AM

I received this email yesterday from a folk friend

'RNLI and new Ofcom charges'


The background:   (From the Telegraph..)

LIFEBOAT crews fear being scuppered by crippling new charges for using their radios from Ofcom, the communications regulator. The RNLI could see the price of using its VHF emergency frequencies rise to £250,000 under plans to charge the full commercial rate.

The charity, which saves hundreds of lives every year currently pays an annual £48,000 at a discounted rate of 50 per cent. It relies on donations and fears the move will have a disastrous impact on fundraising. Peter Bradley, RNLI operations staff officer, said: 'It's a lot of money when you think in terms of lifeboat days and little old ladies collecting pound coins.'

'We could buy several inshore lifeboats for the same amount.'

'The Government rely on us to provide this search-and-rescue service, at a cost of £124 million a year, but they want to charge us for doing it!'

Ofcom has set out plans to bring 'market forces' into maritime and civil aviation communications in a policy it calls Administered Incentive Pricing.

£250,000 represents an awful lot of charity collections, even more so in the current economic climate so, if like me you feel strongly enough about this, please sign the petition below.

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

Please forward to anyone and everyone you think might help by signing the petition.

Hope this reaches as many people as possible - my apologies if it's already been mentioned

'Em'

Subject: RE: BS: RNLI petition
From: Cats
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 06:33 AM

Can anyone put in a blue clicky?

Subject: RE: BS: RNLI petition
From: Emma B
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 06:36 AM

Sorry I just copied the email

here it is....I hope

Subject: RE: BS: RNLI petition
From: Paul Burke
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 06:37 AM

Blue clicky thing to make it easier to sign:
Link to petition

I suppose the £250000 saved will help towards bailing out the bankers.

Subject: RE: BS: RNLI petition
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 06:39 AM

Well, I almost made a third link :-)

Just signed.

Subject: RE: BS: RNLI petition
From: Cllr
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 02:03 PM

just got the email from sidmouth lifeboats glad to see its already on mudcat please sign. Cllr

Subject: RE: BS: RNLI petition
From: Cattail
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 02:45 PM

Hi Emma B, thanks for letting us know about this, it amazes me that they
have to pay anything at all - it should be free to them.

I have just signed.

Thanks again

Cattail !

Subject: RE: BS: RNLI petition
From: Folkiedave
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 03:19 PM

Thanks from me Emma.

RNLI happens to be my faovurite charity....

I have also written to my MP.

I suggest we all do the same.

Subject: RE: BS: RNLI petition
From: EBarnacle
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 11:25 AM

As an honorary RNLI member, courtesy of the 1986 OPSAIL, I was all set to sign on but saw that only British subjects were allowed to join the official petition. Is there another site where non Brits can sign in?

Subject: RE: BS: RNLI petition
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 12:54 PM

Here is a government response to the petition.

Subject: RE: BS: RNLI petition
From: EBarnacle
Date: 05 Nov 08 - 10:34 PM

As they are providing a voluntary service, at risk of life and limb, why are they being charged at all?