THE year 2023 is ending with a flourish for Devon Air Ambulance (DAA) as its 199th Community Landing Site has just become operational in Brentor, at the Brentor Playing Fields.
This most recent addition offers a surveyed floodlit landing site which will enable Devon Air Ambulance to land in the village during the "hours of darkness", allowing DAA's specialist clinical team to be able to reach a patient more quickly.
Graham Coates, Landing Site Manager for Devon Air Ambulance said: "It is great news that this community landing site in Brentor is now operational, and we can reach local people by air when it is dark.
"My thanks to Sheryl and her team on the Brentor Village Hall and Playing Field Committee and Parish Clerk, Caroline Oxenham, along with the rest of Brentor Parish Council for enabling this landing site project to come together so successfully.
"The project at Brentor has involved the installation of a single LED lighting column alongside the playing field which can be operated remotely in an emergency. We have surveyed the playing field so that our crews can get a better understanding of the key features of the site and the landscape surrounding it before they arrive on scene by helicopter."
Sheryl Burroughs, Chair of the Brentor Village Hall, and Playing Field Committee said: "We are delighted that the playing fields are now officially a Devon Air Ambulance night time landing spot.
"We are hoping that it never has to be used but with the site now operational it could potentially be lifesaving to anyone needing it in the surrounding area, something we are proud to be able to offer the community!"
Cllr Gary Hunt, Chair of the Brentor Parish Council said: "We’ve been working with DAA for a number of years now to get a site operational in Brentor and we’re delighted that the project has now been completed and we have a brand new landing site for our community."
Graham Coates went on to say: "On behalf of Devon Air Ambulance, I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone at Brentor Parish Council and the Village Hall Committee for all their efforts and hard work with making this landing site operational."