Amid the celebrations that Falmouth’s coastguard station is to retain its 24-hour cover remains uncertainty over the future of staff and their role.

The government announced today that it was reversing its proposal to downgrade the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre to opening during daylight hours only.

Martin Bidmead, watch officer at Falmouth and Public & Commercial Services Union rep, said staff were “relieved” and “pleased” to hear that Falmouth had been given a reprieve and the chance to remain round-the-clock, but added: “The problem is there is no definitive detail to the proposal.”

Today’s document released by the government does not specify whether Falmouth was to continue its present international and satellite communications role.

Mr Bidmead said: “It would appear that the intention might be to take that away and transfer that to a new mock operations centre at Southampton, which is yet to be built.”

Falmouth is also set to lose staff – reducing from 26 to 23 – while at the same time increasing the area it will have to cover, due to the proposed closure of Brixham, Southampton and Westcountry Portland, the three westcountry centres out of eight closing nationally.

The exact geographical area is also yet to be specified, however.

Uncertainly also exists even over today’s announcements, as all revised proposals must now go out for a second, 12-week consultation.

Mr Bidmead concluded: “It is certainly positive. But there are still a lot of uncertainties. Certainly locally, it is good news for safety.”