Exeter WW2 bomb: 2,600 homes evacuated around Exeter Uni

Exeter WW2 bomb: 2,600 homes evacuated

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Exeter bomb. Pic: Devon and Cornwall PoliceIMAGE COPYRIGHTDEVON AND CORNWALL POLICE
image captionPolice said they were expecting “a big bang” when the bomb was rendered safe in a controlled detonation

More than 2,600 households have been evacuated after an unexploded World War Two bomb was found in Exeter.

Officers were called to University of Exeter halls of residence on Glenthorne Road at about 09:20 GMT on Friday and declared a major incident.

More than 1,400 students were evacuated from 12 halls of residence after the explosive was found.

Devon and Cornwall Police said work was under way “for the controlled detonation of the device”.

On Twitter, the university said the device was discovered by “builders on private land” next to the Streatham campus.

An initial cordon of 330ft (100m) was extended to 1,310ft (400m) on Saturday morning and people in about 2,600 households have been told to move.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

Bomb disposal experts started examining the device at about 10:00 GMT on Saturday to decide how to deal with it.

The explosive device is estimated to be about 8ft long (2.5m).

Police said a bomb disposal team “worked through the night to establish a walled mitigation structure”.

Ch Insp Steve Alexander, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said the mitigation “box” was made using 400 tonnes of sand and “at some point today, all being well, there should be a big bang which will render this device safe”.

He said: “It’s reasonable to expect this bang will be heard quite a distance across Exeter, and it will be important for people not to report it to us as an incident as we are aware of what it is.

He also said anyone not asked to leave their homes should stay to comply with coronavirus lockdown rules.

Road closed at Exeter bomb scene
image captionPolice declared a major incident at the scene on Glenthorne Road

The BBC’s John Ayres said there had been “unusual scenes” of “hundreds of students with suitcases, all marching down the street towards St David’s [railway] Station, away from the university and finding somewhere to go”.

One student, Lucy, told the BBC she was in a hall just over 330ft (100m) away from the scene when she and neighbours were told to leave at about 18:00 on Friday, given dinner and moved to hotels.

She said: “We’ve been told we’ll be staying here until Sunday.”

She added: “I didn’t think it was that big a deal until I realised how big it was and how people were taking it so seriously.”

The university said it would “support those who are affected until the situation is resolved and buildings are reopened”.

It said: “We will communicate directly later today by email with those students who have been relocated.”

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

The university said on Friday night it could not say exactly how many students were moved as “obviously many students are not back on campus because of the Covid-19 situation”.

Exeter students being moved from halls
image captionStudents who were moved from the halls have been told they be in hotels until Sunday

Coastguard rescue officers, volunteers from Dartmoor Search and Rescue and members of disaster response charity Re:Act were among workers helping with the evacuation.

Re:Act said the evacuations were completed by about 11:00.

Devon County Council and Exeter City Council staff had been working to “support those in private residences to find alternative accommodation, providing support to those who are particularly at-risk or vulnerable”, police said.

The majority were “staying with family or friends”, officers added.

Roads have been closed in the area and city rail services disrupted as a result of the discovery.

The city was heavily attacked by German bombers in 19 raids during World War Two, particularly in May 1942 during the Baedecker Raids.

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The University of Exeter has extended the cancellation of rent across all of its accommodation after being advised by the Department of Education that educational settings cannot reopen until 8 March at the earliest. Students who have not returned to their university-managed accommodation between 4 January and 8 March will not be liable to pay rent for that period. The provision is also in place for students whose accommodation contracts have been organised by the university. Students’ Guild President Sunday Blake has said that the Guild will “still be pushing for a system where all students will get 100 per cent rent refunds”. Students in privately-owned UNITE accommodation had originally been told that their rent would be reduced by 50 per cent between 18 January and 14 February, as long as they did not return to their accommodation during this time. This has now also been extended to 8 March, in line with the government’s advice. The vast majority of students in privately rented accommodation are still paying full rent regardless of whether they are currently living in their term-time homes. Students’ Guild President Sunday Blake has said that the Guild will “still be pushing for a system where all students will get 100 per cent rent refunds”.

The University of Exeter has extended the cancellation of rent across all of its accommodation after being advised by the Department of Education that educational settings cannot reopen until 8 March at the earliest.

Students who have not returned to their university-managed accommodation between 4 January and 8 March will not be liable to pay rent for that period.

The provision is also in place for students whose accommodation contracts have been organized by the university.

Students’ Guild President Sunday Blake has said that the Guild will “still be pushing for a system where all students will get 100 per cent rent refunds”.

Students in privately-owned UNITE accommodation had originally been told that their rent would be reduced by 50 percent between 18 January and 14 February, as long as they did not return to their accommodation during this time. This has now also been extended to 8 March, in line with the government’s advice.

The vast majority of students in privately rented accommodation are still paying full rent regardless of whether they are currently living in their term-time homes.

Students’ Guild President Sunday Blake has said that the Guild will “still be pushing for a system where all students will get 100 percent rent refunds”.

Is Exeter a good student city?

Is Exeter expensive for students?
Cost of living

It is estimated that a single student living in Exeter or Cornwall will need approximately £1015 a month to meet basic living expenses such as accommodation, food, books and equipment and other necessities.

How many students are in Exeter?
22,540 (2017)
Is Exeter expensive to live in?
A single person estimated monthly costs are 857$ (620£) without rent. … Exeter is 30.55% less expensive than New York (without rent). Rent in Exeter is, on average, 69.98% lower than in New York.

Is Exeter posh?
Exeter is well known for being somewhat of a preppy uni. Full of the Home Counties finest, shipped down to the South West every semester in daddies Range Rover, it is easy to think of Exeter as being one of the poshest establishments going.
Is Exeter dangerous?
I wouldn’t class any neighborhood as being dangerous in Exeter. … No city is totally safe, and nasty stuff still happens rarely, but Exeter is one of the safest cities I’ve lived in / visited.

 

The things you see on the road In Exeter    How much does a student need to live on a week?
The average student living costs are about £795 a month (or £183 a week), with our findings revealing that the Maintenance Loan often falls way short of covering students‘ living expenses. It’s probably no surprise that rent takes the biggest chunk out of the student budget.

 

 

 

COVID-19 vaccine will be given to Exeter international students in the UK

After rigorous clinical trials have been conducted, with thousands of people involved, the UK has officially become the first country in the western world to authorise a COVID-19 vaccine. The experts from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have taken all the necessary measures to analyse the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine’s safety, quality and effectiveness, and thankfully it is good to go.

With authorisation granted, Pfizer will deliver the vaccine to the UK as soon as possible. Fortunately for international students in the UK, the Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed that international students will “be able to access these vaccinations, just as they are able to access healthcare”.

Who is first in line to receive the vaccine?

According to a priority system devised by the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, care home residents and their care-givers are top priority. Next in line are the elderly over the age of 80, frontline healthcare workers, people aged over 75, then younger age groups and/or with underlying health conditions. Excluded for now are pregnant women and children under the age of 16, but vaccine trials for these groups are ongoing and planned.

The UK has officially become the first country in the western world to authorise a vaccine. Source: JOEL SAGET / AFP

The UK government has actively expressed its commitment to support international students, ensuring they will not be forgotten as the vaccine is distributed and administered. In an open letter to students, universities minister Michelle Donelan expressed the country’s gratitude to them, thanking everyone for their patience.

“I understand that international students may have additional questions as we approach the end of the 2020/21 autumn academic term. Whether you are currently at your chosen university, are studying remotely from your home country, or plan to study here in the future, I am writing to you directly to provide you with support and guidance at this challenging time,” she wrote.

Donelan’s letter focuses on the movements of international students during the festive season and new term, noting that some students may have to stay on campus at this time. “It is [the] government’s expectation that HE providers should help to ensure you are well looked after,” she said. Donelan also mentions that the government is advising international students to return to university during a period staggered over five weeks.

In light of the UK’s vaccine breakthrough, a new survey by QS has found that over a fifth (21%) of international students have said they want to bring forward their plans to study abroad and there’s no reason why they should not.

“Our borders are open for both returning and new international students wishing to study in the UK and our universities are looking forward to welcoming you to campuses in the new year,” Donelan reassures.

“We are committed to prioritising education and want to enable all students – domestic and international, current and prospective – that they can return to, or start new courses at our universities and will be able to engage in blended learning as soon as possible,” she adds.