Wednesday June 10th 2026
Scottish Borders Council headquarters
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Members of Scottish Borders Council will this month be asked to rally in support of the Coastguard after the service’s callout fee was scrapped.
UK Coastguard Rescue Service (CRO) volunteers are no longer paid for callouts.
Following a Court of Appeal ruling, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is transitioning to a “revised volunteer model” to remove the £11 hourly remuneration for incidents and training, sparking concerns among responders.
The move has alarmed East Berwickshire Independent councillor James Anderson, who is to put a motion before SBC on Thursday, June 25, asking members to support Eyemouth Coastguard and others.
Mr Anderson said: “The Coastguard Rescue Service saves lives using highly trained volunteers.
“The call-out payment was never making anyone rich, but it recognised the disruption, responsibility, and personal sacrifice involved in responding to emergencies.
“Removing it risks making volunteering unaffordable for many people and could ultimately affect the resilience of the UK’s coastal rescue network.”
Concerns have been raised by Coastguard volunteers and representative bodies that the removal of these payments may have implications for recruitment, retention and the long-term resilience of the Coastguard Rescue Service, particularly within rural and coastal communities.
The motion calls on the council to formally recognise and thank all serving and former Coastguard Rescue Officers for their commitment, professionalism and service to communities within the Scottish Borders and across the United Kingdom.
It also asks that the council leader write to the Secretary of State for Transport, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, local Members of Parliament, local Members of the Scottish Parliament and relevant representative bodies outlining the council’s support for Coastguard Rescue Officers and requesting that “all reasonable options be explored to provide a sustainable and legally compliant framework that supports the continued recruitment and retention of Coastguard volunteers”.
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