Portishead Lifeboat Trust has requested that the RNLI takes on the running of the independent Portishead and Bristol lifeboat.

Our Trustees have agreed, in principle, to pursue the adoption of the Somerset station, but there is much work to do before we can confirm plans. At the time of writing, we were in the process of putting together a planning application for a new station at Portishead following extensive trials of hardware on site (pictured). We'll let you know how it's going in a future issue.

RNLI Divisional Inspector Adrian Carey says: ‘The Portishead and Bristol lifeboat is part of a chain of safety around the Severn Estuary. The volunteer crew there work in tandem with RNLI lifeboats at Burnham-on-Sea, Weston-super-Mare, Penarth and Barry Dock, and it makes sense to bring them into the RNLI. We are continuing positive negotiations with the Portishead Lifeboat Trust regarding their request for adoption but we are still in the preparatory phase.’