Villagers support Flybe's academy and hotel project

VILLAGERS in East Devon have broadly welcomed a plan for a new Flybe training academy and 160-room hotel at Exeter International Airport.

As the Echo exclusively revealed yesterday, the airline has unveiled a proposal for a £30m development, expected to create 200 jobs.

The plan was on display at Rockbeare Village Hall yesterday, where the response from residents was largely positive.

Louise Phelps, 34, said: "A hotel will be beneficial to me in terms of work and I think it will bring the airport into the 21st century.

"I am an area manager for Millets and I also cover Guernsey and Jersey, so I use the airport a lot.

"I don't have any opposition to the plan. I came as I thought it might have included additional flights, something I would have objected to."

Chris Costello, 45, who has lived in Rockbeare for 10 years, said: "I think it is good. We have a pilot who works for Flybe in the village and something like this will keep more jobs local.

"It will be local people who will apply for the jobs and as we are basically in a recession and lots of people are going out of business, any development by a company is a good thing."

Dan Wollen, 33, who runs a dental laboratory in Exeter and lives in Rockbeare, said: "It is good to get a look at the plan. My wife has lived in the village all her life and I have been here for five years.

"She is involved with a number of organisations, including the village hall committee, and she wanted to check the plan was not going to be something huge the other side of the playing field in the village.

"There is nothing I have an objection to. It was worthwhile coming in."

The academy would be built on a 12-hectare site off Long Lane, next to the industrial estate, with the new hotel alongside.

Including up to 30 classrooms, offices and car parking, the new academy would enable Flybe to expand its apprenticeship programme with Exeter College, as well as increasing the amount of training it provides to other companies. For the first time, Flybe's pilots would be trained in Exeter in a new flight simulator wing.

Simon Riley, 36, a pilot for Astraeus, said: "It all looks very good and it will be positive for Flybe as having all the simulators here will mean they don't have to send people to foreign countries to train."

Andrew Penna, of King Sturge, part of a team helping to gather information before a planning application is submitted, said: "People have been very supportive of the scheme so far.

"We went to Aylesbeare on Wednesday and I am pleased to say the people there were very supportive."

The plan will go on show at Farringdon Village Hall, on Tuesday, from 3pm to 9pm, and at Clyst Honiton Primary School, on Wednesday, from 3pm to 9pm.

People can also view the plan by appointment at Flybe's training centre.