A WEYMOUTH store has collected 700 signatures for the Echo’s Coastguard campaign and more people are signing up all the time.

Staff at Value House off Camp Road, Weymouth, say they have been overwhelmed by the number of shoppers who have been signing the petition to convince the government and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to site a new Coastguard supercentre in the borough.

Supervisor Tony Swatton said: “We have been leaving them out on the tills and asking every customer to sign.

“Tourists and visitors from as far as Bath and even Scotland have signed. People are saying they are amazed the government are thinking of closing the station.”

Under current government plans, which are in the second phase of consultation, Portland Coastguard station would be closed along with eight others and replaced with a supercentre or Maritime Operations Centre in either Southampton or Portsmouth.

But the plans are not set in stone and there have been indications that Weymouth and Portland Borough Council should resubmit its original plan to site the supercentre in the borough.

Mr Swatton said: “People come down from Bristol and Bath with their boats. They go out on the water and feel safe with someone knowing the local coastline.

“We have had very positive feedback from customers.

“We put one petition out and within an hour I had to go and photocopy more.

“No one has refused to sign it.”

He added: “We get a tremendous number of visitors here. We have got to have something like the Coastguard supercentre here.

“The customers are saying they shouldn’t think about removing it.

“We have the Olympic sailing centre and I think with the Olympic and Paralympics and the sailing centre it will be used more and more. We will need this facility more.

“We need it down here.

“It’s a lifesaver and has to be done.”

Readers can join the campaign in a number of different ways including via Facebook – search for Portland Coastguard – Save Our Lifesavers – or by following links from the Dorset Echo Facebook page.

The petition is available to download from the Echo website – or fill out the coupon and send it to the office at the Granby Industrial Estate in Weymouth or the Dorchester office in Antelope Walk. Readers can request a paper copy of the petition by calling Catherine Bolado on 01305 830985.

To read more about the Save Our Lifesavers campaign visit dorsetecho.co. uk/campaigns/save_ our_lifesavers/ n Have you been saved by Portland Coastguard or do you know anyone who has?

If so, we’d love to get your support for the coastguards.

Call Catherine Bolado on 01305 830985 or email catherine.bolado @dorsetecho.co.uk.