MP delivers keynote speech at mountain rescue conference (From The Westmorland Gazette)

MP delivers keynote speech at mountain rescue conference

5:43pm Monday 17th September 2012 in News

PENRITH and Border MP Rory Stewart delivered the keynote speech at the UK Mountain Rescue’s bi-ennial conference - the first MP ever to do so.

This year’s conference focused on technology and its applications for mountain rescue and search-and-rescue operations.

Mr Stewart defended the right of people to use the mountains freely and sought to dismiss any ideas that Mountain Rescue should ever charge for its services, or that what was needed from government was more ‘red tape’. His sentiments were shared by a packed audience at the Headingly University campus in Leeds.

Mr Stewart, who is chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mountain Rescue in Parliament, said: “We need much improved understanding between, and awareness of, the various emergency services that operate on our mountains.

“Mountain Rescue are true volunteers, unpaid professionals providing a totally free service to our communities. This ethos allows everyone to roam free in our mountains, and this we must preserve at all costs.

“Mountain Rescue must not become a corporate identity - its local ownership, and precisely its local knowledge and expertise, is what is essential to maintaining this community-based emergency rescue service."

Richard Warren, Chairman of LDSAMRA, said" Rory delivered a supportive and motivating address at the conference. We are lucky that our local MPs are extremely strong supporters of mountain rescue and ensure that our efforts are recognised in both Whitehall and our local communities.

“Rory in particular is well known within the corridors of power for his forthright approach to dealing with issues."