Bay rescuers seek additional premises (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Bay rescuers seek additional premises

8:16am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News

BAY Search and Rescue Team is on the look-out for additional premises to cope with rising demand for its services.

The charity wants to spread itself more widely across the region by having bases in other parts of its catchment area.

It will continue to operate from its Flookburgh base, but is looking for a new home for a Land Rover, a flood rescue boat and, potentially, other vehicles.

BSAR has just invested in two large trucks and is an expanding service, dealing with sea rescues in Morecambe Bay, flooding and, more recently, helping free emergency vehicles stuck in snow.

Deputy station officer Paul Calland said: “The team has grown significantly. There were eight of us when I joined and just one vehicle and we were doing 12 call-outs a year.

“We now have 20 operational members who are based all over the place and have done six call-outs already in January, which puts it into context.”

Mr Calland said an ideal site for the ‘forward operating base’ would be anywhere between Milnthorpe and the A590 as far as Levens.

Ideally, the premises would be under cover and be a minimum of 15 metres by 15 metres to store the required equipment.

Anybody who thinks they can help, contact the team on 015395-58771 or email paul@bay searchandrescue.org.uk.