Last updated at 13:36, Friday, 05 March 2010

A VOLUNTARY lifesaving team that split into two opposing factions is poised to return.

Ulverston Inshore Rescue has announced its crew is back in training and hopes to be back “on station” in the next few months.

The announcement follows a year-long dispute between the remaining UIR team and several former members, who have since parted company and formed South Lakes Search and Rescue.

Stan Lewis, UIR company secretary, said in a letter to CN Group, which owns the Evening Mail: “We are pleased to inform you that, after a dreadful year in which we have been ‘off station’ for about seven months because of an internal dispute, we are back again in business.

“We are now taking all the necessary steps to put things in order so that we can ask the coastguard to allow us to go back on station at the earliest possible time.”

The Evening Mail reported in July last year that UIR was “off station”.

Stephen Fell and Jack Rice, two of the UIR directors at that time, called an extraordinary general meeting on July 18 when they said some crew members’ fears over equipment, and the subsequent divided opinion at committee level, had sparked the internal divide.

At that meeting, an entirely new UIR hierarchy was elected, with Mr Lewis and station officer Bruce Chattaway among those voted out, and Mr Rice and Mr Fell among those voted back in.

Mr Lewis and Mr Chattaway argued the EGM had broken UIR standing orders and that it was – along with all the resolutions made during it – invalid.

In the aftermath, both sections claimed legitimacy. Solicitors have been involved on both sides and only last month was a formal resolution reached.

As part of that, it was agreed the July 18 EGM, and the resolutions arising from it, do not stand.

Mr Chattaway has been ratified as UIR station officer and said the crew now wishes to start afresh.

He said: “I’ve got a full squad of 14 good lads including the original ones who didn’t leave and some new ones as well.

“It’ll take a few months to get up-and-running but we’re training every Monday night and it won’t be far off until we’re back as a service for the people of Ulverston.”

Mr Chattaway said equipment is being serviced ahead of a Maritime and Coastguard Agency audit, which must be passed before the crew can return to action.

Mr Chattaway added that the past will be put aside and that UIR is happy to work with South Lakes Search and Rescue.

He said: “We will work with them in the future, that is not a problem because we’re only in this for one thing and that’s to save lives.”

Mr Fell and Mr Rice were not available for comment yesterday.

Rich Nicholls, training officer for SLSAR, said: “We wish them (UIR) all the best and hope we can work together in the future.”

First published at 13:12, Friday, 05 March 2010
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk