A CEREDIGION holiday park has pledged to pay for all the fuel for a new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat in New Quay.

Following the RNLI’s decision to replace New Quay’s current all-weather lifeboat with a smaller, inshore lifeboat in 2020 following a review, a community-led initiative has been founded to challenge the RNLI’s decision, and the family run business is supporting the campaign.

The owners of Pencnwc Holiday Park, Ian and Stella Davies and their sons, Tomas and Daniel, are supporting the Ceredigion Lifeboat Campaign (CLC) in the most extraordinary way by pledging to pay for all the fuel for a new all-weather lifeboat.

Tomas is a member of the lifeboat crew and Daniel is a part-time firefighter in New Quay and supporting the local community is important to the family-run business.

Tomas said, “When we heard the news that the RNLI would not be replacing our Mersey class all-weather lifeboat we were shocked. Since then we have been thinking of ways in which we can help.

“We work in the tourism business, it is our livelihood, and it’s important that we have the right emergency services in the area.

“Being on the crew I know that the proposed new inshore lifeboat is a good boat but there are things that it can’t do. To leave a gap of 70 miles between all-weather lifeboats is unthinkable and lives could be lost without one.”

His father, Ian added, “We hope that our pledge to pay for the fuel of a new Shannon-class lifeboat will help and we hope that the RNLI will change their minds.”

Richard Taylor, chair of the CLC said: “We would like to thank the Davies family for their exceptionally generous pledge. The RNLI have made it very clear that capital and operating costs were significant considerations in making their decision to downgrade the lifeboat in New Quay.

“We very much hope that this pledge of financial support, and others like it, will give the RNLI cause to reconsider this ill-judged decision.

“Our community is united in its opposition to the RNLI’s plans and we will do everything in our power to reverse the decision to downgrade lifesaving capability in Ceredigion.”

The campaign has the support of Ceredigion MP Ben Lake, Elin Jones AM, Joyce Watson AM, Dyfed Powys Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn, and the unanimous backing of Ceredigion County Council.

Nearly 20,000 people have signed a petition opposing the RNLI’s proposal.