KINGSBRIDGE Rugby Club have offered their grounds for the Devon Air Ambulance to use when they start night time flying and Kingsbridge Town Council have offered the funds to allow this to happen.

Toby Russell from the Devon Air Ambulance Trust made a presentation to the town council on Tuesday evening, explaining the need for sites in Kingsbridge.

The air ambulance is preparing to start night-time flying, up until midnight, from October onwards. Currently, they are only able to fly during daylight hours, meaning up until about 8pm during the summer, but only about 5pm during the winter.

In order to be able to fly at night, there is extra equipment needed for the helicopters, but there is also a need for flood-lit spaces to land in. This is where Kingsbridge Rugby Club have stepped up.

‘We were contacted by Devon Rugby Football Union, our governing body’ explained Martin Newman, club secretary, ‘to see if it was possible for the ambulance to use the pitch. It went to committee and everyone said “absolutely”.

‘I got in touch with Toby, whose son plays with us, they came up and surveyed the ground and looked at the lighting system. All that is needed is a bit of kit that can turn the lights on remotely and we’re good to go.

‘We have benefitted from the air ambulance coming to us in the past, they have attended four injured rugby players and have landed here to attend other places too. We want to be up and running as soon as they can start night flying.’

Other sites in Kingsbridge were looked into, including Duncombe Park, which the ambulance land in during the day, Kingsbridge Community College and the all weather pitch at Westville, but size, accessibility and pre-existing floodlighting made the rugby club a much more suitable site.

The cost for installing the lighting kit, which includes a SIM card that can be sent a signal from the helicopter dispatch to turn the lights on, is £998.40.

Since the rugby club was providing the setting and absorbing the cost of the extra electricity, it was suggested that the community could support the project with the installation costs.

When Toby approached Kingsbridge Town Council at their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, Cllr Wayne Grills said: ‘The amount of money we are receiving from the solar farm at Belle Hill has gone from £2,000 to £4,000; we have the money, lets not beat around the bush, we’ll just get it done.’

Cllr Chris Povey, Mayor of Kingsbridge, proposed to ‘get the kit bought ASAP’, this was quickly and unanimously voted for by the councillors.

‘Now we have the funding confirmed from KTC, we’ll be ready to go anytime now’, continued Martin. ‘We’re part of the community as are the Devon Air Ambulance. Kingsbridge Rugby Club are delighted to do what we can to help.’

‘Its great, a big shout out and thanks to the Kingsbridge Rugby Club and the town council’, said Toby, ‘They’ve been so supportive and willing to help. Its a great positive for Kingsbridge. Everyone has grasped the importance of us being able to fly at night.’

You can find out more about the vital service provided by the Devon Air Ambulance by visiting their website: www.daat.org or you can find them on Facebook and Twitter: @DevonAirAmb.