ALTHOUGH there is a long way yet to go, initial thoughts are that The Rec, the playing field at the entrance to Lords Meadow Industrial Estate, in Crediton could become a recognised landing place for the air ambulance at night.

The Devon Air Ambulance Trust is looking for suitable sites in communities near areas of housing all over the county.

Toby Russell, Community Helipads Development Officer, told Crediton Town Council’s policy and forward planning committee that a 50m x 50m area was needed for the Devon Air Ambulance helicopter to use when they start flying every day up to midnight from later this year.

Lighting would be needed that could be switched on remotely, which meant no-one needed to be on-hand to operate the lights. Sites would also need good pedestrian and vehicle access.

“A community helipad would be a community asset in that it is funded and managed by the community,” said Mr Russell.

“Extending the service until midnight every day will cost the charity another £1 million a year, so we are looking to communities to develop their own night landing sites.”

The air ambulance would continue to land as close as it could to where it was needed during the day. Last year the air ambulance was deployed to 1,059 incidents and a conservative estimate indicates a 10 per cent increase in the number of people helped as it extends its service into the night.

Its shops were important and it was hoped to have more over the next few years.

Mr Russell said Crediton Rugby Club had kindly been in touch to suggest its pitches including Riverside and The Rec.

The Riverside pitch was large enough, but its location on the outskirts of the town meant it would take longer for paramedics to get to people in the town and equally for the land ambulance to transfer patients, compared to a site within the town, especially in the winter.

The main pitch was also large enough, but access was more limited than other potential sites, and did not have lights but had a gate.

The practice pitch at The Rec was large enough within a wide open space and had good access, in particular to the main A3072 and A377, had lighting and no high trees. It was already used by the air ambulance during the daytime.

Other potential sites that have been considered include Landscore Primary School playing field (not big enough), People’s Park (too long and thin) and, Newcombes Meadow. These sites were either too small for landing at night or access was restricted.

Crediton United Football Club’s ground had not been fully assessed, could have potential but the vehicle access was not good.

“Ideally we need landing sites that are easily accessible to enable paramedics to access people in the community and when land ambulances are bringing patients to the helicopter for onward transfer,” Mr Russell said.

“Everything about our approach to night flying is based around safety and speed of the service in getting people to the aircraft,” he explained.

He said the air ambulance came to Crediton four times last year, adding: “One interesting thing about Crediton is that it is where we pick up patients en route to hospital.

“You have two major roads and we could be called to take patients on from a land ambulance.”