THE closure of Greenock's Clyde coastguard station was confirmed by the UK Government.

But a union official said the campaign to save the busiest coastguard centre in Scotland might continue.

Shipping Minister Mike Penning made the closure announcement in the House of Commons following a campaign which included a protest march through Greenock and a 12,000-signature petition being delivered to the Prime Minister.

The decision was immediately criticised by campaigners who fought to stop the Eldon Street centre being shut as part of a nationwide review of services.

The centre was due to shut at the end of 2012 with its operations taken over initially by Belfast Coastguard, and eventually by all Coastguard centres around the country, according
to the MCA.

Campaigners feared lives could be at risk on the river if vital local knowledge is lost and there are delays in carrying out rescues.

How the Tele reported news of the Greenock coastguard station's closure in 2011.How the Tele reported news of the Greenock coastguard station's closure in 2011. (Image: Newsquest)

Inverclyde MP Iain McKenzie asked the minister in the Commons: “Can he assure people that safety is paramount and that the loss of Clyde Coastguard will not make this a ‘no-shipping zone’?”

Mr Penning responsed that MPs should be careful about using ‘emotive language’ and added: “Belfast does the job on a regular basis when Clyde is not operating.”

PCS Union section officer, Stuart Atkinson, said: “We are obviously concerned that 31 jobs are now at risk, but there are also very real worries about safety because of the lack of local knowledge of our coastline.”

Calum Murray, chairman of the PCS Clyde branch, which represents the Greenock staff, said members were ‘devastated’.

Invercyde MP Iain McKenzie said: "The decision is bitterly disappointing for those who work the seas and a body blow to Greenock.

“This isn’t modernisation — it is elimination. It is not an accident waiting to happen — it is a disaster waiting to happen."