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Dounreay firing range plan sparks new protest


By Will Clark

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Dounreay
Dounreay

PLANS to install a new firearms training range at Dounreay have hit double trouble.

Site licence company DSRL has been forced to move to a new location after its preferred option of using ground at Forss fell through.

And the estimated cost of installing the range for the use of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary has spiralled from £1.6 million to £2.2 million.

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, which is bankrolling the scheme, yesterday confirmed that it is now to go ahead on land it owns at Dounreay.

Project manager Stewart Henderson said that it had to make the switch after New Park Highland, which owned Forss Business and Technology Park – the preferred site for the range – went into administration last year.

He said it is now focusing on NDA-owned land between the licensed site and Upper Dounreay with hopes that it will be up and running by the autumn, subject to its planning application getting a clean run.

Mr Henderson said: “The building we were using as a support structure was on land owned by New Park Highland Limited and the land where we planned to build a diamond range was owned by Abbey Properties Cambridge Limited, who were involved in the joint venture,” he said.

“Unfortunately New Park Highland went into administration, all Govern-ment leases have to be approved by the Treasury, who had no appetite to enter into an agreement with a company that was in administration.

“The NDA asked us to abandon the proposal to build the range at Forss and look at their land holdings around Dounreay to see if there was anywhere available that we could build the range that would avoid us going to the Treasury to apply for a lease.”

The proposed facility at Dounreay is identical to the one that was planned at Forss and will feature an eight-lane, 50-metre firearms training range. The extra £600,000 is being attributed to the new building required to build support facilities.

“The facility is identical with the only difference being we are not able to convert an existing building on site,” said Mr Henderson.

“We require the building due to legislation which requires staff to be able to shower or wash their hands after using a firearm.

“The building at the Forss site had showers, office and a classroom to train staff which we required.”

The range has an estimated 10 year lifespan to meet the proposed end date for decommissioning of 2023 by Babcock Dounreay Partnership, but will be operational for as long as the CNC require it.

A raised embankment will be constructed around its perimeter which is designed to lessen much of the anticipated noise.

The material for the embankment will come from spoil from DSRL’s new low-level waste dump, which is being constructed.

Nearby residents, who attended a drop in session at Reay Village Hall, remain unconvinced by assurances over noise.

Adam Gunn (68), of Upper Dounreay, whose property adjoins the site of the firing range, believes the noise level will affect surrounding properties.

“The firing range will be built too near to properties which are home to dogs and sheep and it could have an adverse effect,” he said.

“The noise levels from the shooting means we would not be able to walk dogs or move sheep while it is taking place.

“They told me the noise would not affect nearby residents but I remain unconvinced – it is far too near properties at Upper Dounreay.”

When the range at Forss was first mooted, it was proposed to be made available for shooting clubs in Caithness to use, but Mr Henderson said that he was unsure if the CNC had similar plans for the new proposal.

DSRL hopes to get planning consent for the firing range in May and complete construction by September.


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