Save Our Sport - Clay Target Shooting
- by: Tim Shayle
- recipient: Forest of Dean County Council
Kents Green Clay Shoot was stared in 1978 and continued on a fortnightly basis until 2013 (continually shooting for 35 years). In 2013 the land owner decided to sell the farm and I was unable to continue to run the shoot on that ground. At this time I was able to purchase land at Blackwells End, approximately 2.2 miles away from the original ground on a bigger area and further away from any dwellings than it was before. This enabled me to continue to supply the local shooting community with the facility they have used for 35 years.
Despite the new ground being in a better location with fewer dwelling and in the same geographical location, we received a complaint and were served with the noise abatement notice. At this time the shoot was averaging 60 entrants per shoot and was only conducted once every two weeks for about three hours on a Sunday morning. In order to reduce the noise output from the shoot we put in for planning permission to landscape the area with earth bunds planted with trees. The development has been designed so that it will not interfere with the agricultural and forestry use. Then surprise surprise, the same people who complained about the noise objected to the plans for the solution.
Shooting is worth £2 billion to the UK economy (GVA). Shooters spend £2.5 billion each year on goods and services. Shooting supports the equivalent of 74,000 full time jobs. Shooters spend 3.9 million work days on conservation – that’s the equivalent of 16,000 full-time jobs.
Britain’s Shooters are among the best in the world with Gold Medal winners such as Peter Wilson and Richard Faulds, upcoming stars such as Amber Hill and Charlotte Kerwood, and of course the ultimate shooter, George Digweed MBE, 26 times World Sporting Champion.
Please help us save our shooting ground and support your sport by signing this petition.
Please find attached the petition started to support the Mt Oliver Clay Target Shooting Ground at Blackwells End, Hartpury, Gloucestershire. As you can see we have had over 500 signatures and comments of support in a short time. Clay target shooting is a very popular and growing sport. It gives a much need boost to rural economies, supports rural families and opens up the countryside to those who wish to appreciate it. The countryside is not the playground of the rich and should not be stifled by those who have the means to do so. Clay target shooting is an affordable sport and is enjoyed by all sections of the social spectrum.
Kents Green Clay Shoot was stared in 1978 and continued on a fortnightly basis until 2013 (continually shooting for 35 years). In 2013 the land owner decided to sell the farm and I was unable to continue to run the shoot on that ground. At this time I was able to purchase land at Blackwells End, approximately 2.2 miles away from the original ground on a bigger area and further away from any dwellings than it was before. This enabled me to continue to supply the local shooting community with the facility they have used for 35 years.
Despite the new ground being in a better location with fewer dwelling and in the same geographical location, we received a complaint and were served with the noise abatement notice. At this time the shoot was averaging 60 entrants per shoot and was only conducted once every two weeks for about three hours on a Sunday morning. In order to reduce the noise output from the shoot we put in for planning permission to landscape the area with earth bunds planted with trees. The development has been designed so that it will not interfere with the agricultural and forestry use. Then surprise surprise, the same people who complained about the noise objected to the plans for the solution.
Shooting is worth £2 billion to the UK economy (GVA). Shooters spend £2.5 billion each year on goods and services. Shooting supports the equivalent of 74,000 full time jobs. Shooters spend 3.9 million work days on conservation – that’s the equivalent of 16,000 full-time jobs.
Britain’s Shooters are among the best in the world with Gold Medal winners such as Peter Wilson and Richard Faulds, upcoming stars such as Amber Hill and Charlotte Kerwood, and of course the ultimate shooter, George Digweed MBE, 26 times World Sporting Champion.
Please help us save our shooting ground and support your sport by signing this petition.
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