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New criteria for Freedom of the City

A new set of guidelines is being drawn up to help Exeter councillors decide who should be given Freedom of the City. A debate on the issue opened last year when a campaign was launched asking for Chris Martin from Coldplay - who's from the area - to receive the honour.

More than 2000 people signed an online petition asking for the singer to become a freeman of Exeter - but he responded to the council himself saying he didn't deserve it.

However it was felt that a new set of criteria needed to be agreed - and that the remit for the honour could be widened.

This evening the suggested criteria go before councillors.

They propose that to qualify for the honour, a person should have served the community for 20 years, achieved national or international recognition for excellence in their field, promoted Exeter nationally or internationally, or performed an extraordinary act in which they put other people's safety before their own.

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