CHERITON Fitzpaine Football Club building was the venue for a public meeting to discuss providing a site which could be used by the Devon Air Ambulance helicopter at night for the local area.

Toby Russell spoke to the meeting and explained what was needed and the cost. Patients with time critical injuries and conditions need to be transported to an appropriate hospital as quickly as possible and a helicopter is the ideal means of transport.

Currently, the air ambulance can only attend emergencies in Cheriton Fitzpaine and the local area during daylight hours. The Football Club is offering the use of its pitch as a night time landing site.

Currently, the Devon Air Ambulance operates up to midnight at 40 “active” sites in Devon, with floodlighting operated remotely from its headquarters. Its aim is to extend this coverage to 3am within the next eight months.

The total cost of installing the lighting is £5,700 and the community would need to raise about 40 per cent of this. The Football Club has already raised £800 towards this sum.

Further fundraising needs to be carried out by the local community before the project can go ahead. It is hoped the installation could be completed within 12 months.

Mary Nunn