The Air Sea Rescue service from Manston which currently covers the English Channel could be lost if a proposal by the Maritime Coastguard Agency to relocate the emergency air response to Coventry goes ahead.

MP for Canterbury,  Julian Brazier has written to Paul Clark, the Shipping Minister, over the Maritime and Coastguard Agency plans to scrap emergency flights from Manston.

In his letter Mr Brazier wrote: "“I have been contacted by Laura Sandys the PPC for South Thanet as both a Kent MP and Shadow Minister for Shipping regarding scrapping of Air Sea Rescue from Manston. I share Laura’'s concern and know that it will be echoed by a great many residents.

"A sea rescue plane is currently available for emergencies flying out of Manston Airport. Responding to a Dover alert, it can be up and at the scene within half an hour, but normally within 20 minutes from the alert -this includes travel time and all airport checks. This service currently covers rescue across the Channel, which is the busiest waterway in the world. It also forms part of the protection for leisure boats, yachtsmen, our fishing fleet and commercial shipping."

The letter went on to explain that the MCA is making arrangements to relocate the Manston emergency air response capacity to Coventry.

"The Coventry based aircraft itself will not have the capacity to carry a dinghy similar to the one that is used from Manston. Even without the necessary air traffic checks and without travel time to the aircraft, the time from Coventry to a Channel site would be 35 minutes. This makes all those currently safeguarded by the current arrangement more vulnerable.

"While I appreciate that in difficult economic times all departments and services are required to reduce cost. I am deeply concerned about this proposal.”