Coastal ‘surveillance’ trailer at Filey gets temporary extension for future use
A life-saving trailer at Filey has been given a further lease of life as the council approved its continued siting on a pedestrian promenade.
The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) has received permission for its coastal mobile trailer to be located on Filey’s Royal Parade until July 2028.
The NCI’s Tango 3 mobile lookout unit on Royal Parade, Filey, provides a daylight watchkeeping service seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Filey Town Council supported the application and asked North Yorkshire Council to “consider including the coast watch office in the new design for the replacement building on Royal Parade".
Originally installed in 2022, North Yorkshire Council approved a two-year extension for the temporary structure in 2024.
The unit provides a “vital life-saving function along the Yorkshire coast and forms part of the national network of NCI watch stations”.
Council planners agreed that “whilst currently there is no proposal for a replacement building, it is anticipated that this will happen in the near future.
“In our view, this redevelopment could provide a prospect for NCI Filey to procure a more permanent solution for its activities.”
In recent years, the station has expanded from two to 20 trained volunteer watchkeepers and has initiated 12 incidents, including one formally recorded by the RNLI as “lives saved at sea”.
The unit is equipped with a radio antenna, wind turbine, and solar panels for power generation and is fitted with VHF radio, AIS ship-identification systems, weather monitoring equipment, and optics for visual surveillance.
NCI acknowledged the temporary nature of the proposal and reiterated its long-term intention to secure a “permanent, higher-quality facility”.
A planning report said the proposal was considered to be appropriate and would not cause any harm to the surrounding historic environment.
“In addition, the presence of NCI Filey is now widely recognised as having strengthened and complemented other local Search and Rescue services under the command of HM Coastguard.
“NCI Filey continues to grow, with a focus on watch-keeper recruitment and training, and the generation of funds for identified projects,” it added.
North Yorkshire Council approved the application, subject to conditions, on Wednesday, July 8.