Current arrangements will remain in place after ministers admitted consultation work failed to properly assess the impact on volunteers and coastal operations

PLANS to move Coastguard Rescue Officers to an expenses-only volunteer system have been abandoned following widespread concern from crews, MPs and trade unions.

The Department for Transport confirmed on Thursday (July 16) that the proposed change, which had been due to take effect in September 2026, will no longer go ahead.

Current payment arrangements for Coastguard Rescue Officers will remain in place while the Maritime and Coastguard Agency carries out further consultation on the future of the service.

The reversal follows warnings that removing modest payments could force experienced officers to leave, placing additional pressure on teams responsible for responding to emergencies around the UK coastline.

Coastguard Rescue Officers are trained volunteers who attend incidents including cliff rescues, searches for missing people, flooding, maritime emergencies and casualties cut off by the tide.

The proposed expenses-only model was announced on June 1 following a Court of Appeal ruling in the case of Maritime and Coastguard Agency v Groom.

The judgment found that the payment of modest remuneration had inadvertently created a worker relationship between the MCA and Coastguard Rescue Officers.

The Government said the ruling meant it would either need to restore a fully voluntary model or formally adopt a worker model to remain legally compliant.

Transport minister Keir Mather said the expenses-only option had initially been considered the most appropriate response, based on advice provided by the MCA.

However, he said further scrutiny had revealed that two surveys used to inform the decision had not been detailed enough to properly assess the consequences for individual officers, their families or the wider service.

Mr Mather said: “I can confirm that plans to move to the expenses-only volunteer model in September will not go ahead and current arrangements will remain in place.”

He said ministers had listened to concerns raised by Coastguard Rescue Officers, MPs and trade unions, including during parliamentary questions, an urgent question and a Westminster Hall debate.

Mr Mather also visited a Coastguard station in Southampton, where he met members of the Hill Head and Portsmouth teams to hear directly how the changes could affect officers and their families.

He added: “Coastguard Rescue Officers must feel that their views have been heard and that they are valued, respected and empowered to carry out their duties.

“I am committed to ensuring that we now take the time to robustly gather the information required to understand the full operational implications of future decisions.”

Over the coming months, the MCA will consult directly with Coastguard Rescue Officers, trade unions and MPs before deciding on the longer-term structure of the service.

The Department for Transport will also examine how officers can continue to be properly recognised and rewarded while retaining the flexibility needed to serve their local communities.

Mr Mather said protecting the public around the coastline and recognising the work of Coastguard Rescue Officers remained his key priorities.

Natural Resources Wales and Public Health Wales urge people to check conditions and take precautions as temperatures rise

People heading to Wales’ beaches, rivers and lakes are being urged to take extra care as warmer weather encourages more families and swimmers into open water.

Natural Resources Wales and Public Health Wales have issued joint safety advice ahead of the school summer holidays, warning that conditions in natural waters can change rapidly and may present risks that are not immediately visible.

Although outdoor swimming can provide physical and mental health benefits, officials say rivers, lakes and coastal waters are very different from managed swimming pools.

Potential hazards include cold-water shock, strong currents, sudden changes in depth, underwater obstacles and blooms of blue-green algae.

Even during hot weather, water temperatures can remain dangerously cold. Entering too quickly can trigger cold-water shock, affecting breathing and movement and increasing the risk of drowning.

Water that appears clean may also contain harmful bacteria, viruses or other contaminants from agricultural runoff, urban drainage, wildlife, wastewater or storm overflow discharges.

The risk can increase after periods of heavy rainfall, although officials stressed that water quality can vary at any time.

While a number of coastal areas and a small number of river locations in Wales are designated bathing waters and regularly monitored between May and September, most rivers, lakes and inland waters are not routinely tested for bathing purposes.

Bathing water designation provides information to help people make informed choices, but it does not guarantee that the water will always be free from pollution or other health risks.

Hamish Osborn, Environment Team Leader at Natural Resources Wales, said: “We know more people are looking to rivers, lakes and coastal waters to cool off and enjoy the outdoors during periods of hot weather.

“Wales has fantastic places to connect with nature, but natural waters are different from managed swimming environments and conditions can change quickly.

“Most rivers and lakes in Wales are not designated bathing waters, so we encourage people to make informed choices about where and when they enter the water, follow the Wild Swimming Code and take sensible steps to protect their health and safety.”

Alice Munro, Consultant in Environmental Public Health at Public Health Wales, said weather, tides, currents and water depth could all change quickly.

She said: “Even in summer, the water can be extremely cold and cause cold-water shock if you get in too quickly, which can lead to drowning.

“You may also not be able to see underwater dangers, especially if you dive or jump in. Getting in slowly and wearing a flotation device can reduce these risks when swimming in unfamiliar waters.”

People are advised to choose known and suitable swimming locations wherever possible, including designated bathing waters, and to check the weather, tides and local conditions before entering.

Swimmers should avoid swallowing water, cover cuts and grazes with waterproof dressings and wash their hands before eating or drinking.

They should shower as soon as possible after swimming and regularly clean wetsuits and other equipment.

Anyone who has recently suffered from diarrhoea or vomiting should stay out of the water. Medical advice should be sought if symptoms such as stomach cramps, fever, vomiting or diarrhoea develop after swimming.

FAMILIES can look forward to a summer of treasure chests, gruesome tales from the past and the spectacle of a giant siege engine thundering into action at one of Pembrokeshire’s most striking medieval landmarks.

From Saturday 18 July to Monday 31 August, Carew Castle will host a packed holiday programme designed to bring its towers, passageways and grounds to life, with daily trails, medieval activities, open-air theatre, archaeology, living history and hands-on adventures for visitors to enjoy.

Adventure Days will bring the medieval mayhem from Sunday to Thursday each week between 19 July and 27 August. Young visitors can follow the free Proving Ground trail, sharpen their skills at Knight School, test their aim with Have-a-Go Archery, and discover just how noisy and exhilarating Castle life could be.

The daily programme on these days also includes Horrid Histories at 11am, bringing the Castle’s gorier stories to life for younger visitors, followed at 3pm by an interactive Find the Key! activity – both of which are included with normal Castle admission.

For those interested in medieval might on a much larger scale, Carew’s giant trebuchet will be hauled into action every Tuesday from 21 July to 25 August at 2.30pm, revealing how power, engineering and sheer nerve shaped the brutal business of attacking a castle.

As evening falls, the Castle grounds will become a stage for suspense, music and larger-than-life storytelling, with open-air performances of Sherlock Holmes and The Hound of the Baskervilles on Thursday 30 July and The Jungle Book on Tuesday 4 August. Advance booking is required.

The Castle’s real-life stories will also come into focus this summer. On Monday 3 August, Unearthing History: Pembrokeshire’s Past will bring local archaeology to Carew. Running from 10am to 4pm, the event will invite visitors to step behind the scenes, with experts on hand to reveal how small finds, buried evidence and fragments of everyday life can help unlock stories from centuries ago. There will also be talks, games and hands-on activities for children throughout the day, alongside Knight School and Have-a-Go Archery. 

Over the August bank holiday weekend, Carew will be taken over by warriors, weapons and the sights and sounds of a 12th-century encampment. Across the three-day event, Historia Normannis will bring medieval life into the Castle grounds with combat displays, traditional skills and weaponry demonstrations, giving visitors a close-up look at how soldiers trained, fought and lived. Activities will run from 10am to 4pm each day, with Have-a-Go Archery also available.

Daisy Hughes, Manager of Carew Castle, said: “Carew is a wonderful place for children to let their imaginations run ahead of them. It has that rare mix of space, mystery and surprise that turns a day out into something children keep talking about on the way home.

“We’ve shaped the summer programme so families can make the day their own, whether they come for a favourite event, stumble across something unexpected, or simply enjoy being somewhere that feels made for adventure.”

For full details of Carew Castle’s summer holiday programme, including event timings and booking information, visit www.carewcastle.com.