Lifeguards will not return to Greenhill Beach until 2021

The Royal National Lifeguard Institution (RNLI) confirmed lifeguards will not return to Greenhill Beach until 2021 due to insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), training and recruitment.

Weymouth Town Council has said the RNLI has confirmed they are not in a position to effectively provide a full provision given “they are operating in a pandemic and the risks have not gone away.”

The RNLI stated “PPE is in continuous high demand across the UK and they need to be sure there is sufficient levels for our lifeboat crew and lifeguards to protect them from infection.”

The institution goes on to say “there is also a limit to the level of recruitment and training that can be delivered.  This had to be paused at the end of March, and while it has restarted, they are unable to reach normal levels to cover all beaches.”

In past years, the swimming rafts have been deployed in July but won’t be in use until 2021.

Weymouth Town Council has confirmed a full lifeguard service for Weymouth Central Beach which commenced on 13 June.