Shooting club plans thrown out (From Warrington Guardian)

Shooting club plans thrown out

8:30am Monday 18th February 2013 in News

PLANS for a clay pigeon shooting club close to Risley Moss have been turned down by councillors.

Members of Warrington Borough Council’s development managment committee voted against the scheme for the club in Rixton on Thursday night at the Town Hall.

Speaking after the meeting, Clr Russ Bowden (LAB – Birchwood) said: “The decision tonight has rightly placed the rights of thousands of local residents above the wishes of a handful of people involved with a minority sport.

“The applicant has shown scant regard for the planning process and has failed to show that residential amenity and treasured natural sites such as Risley Moss would not be irreparably harmed by the proposed gun club.”

Residents, councillors and experts all lobbied the committee, arguing the development would hit the green belt and wildlife.

Rixton resident Deborah Copsey said: “This application would have shattered our tranquillity of life, with hours of gun noise and the impact of increased traffic.

“Generations of families have enjoyed a rural way of life here and our residential amenity needed to be protected.”

Ecologist Rob Smith added: “Risley Moss attracts a wide range of birds throughout the year, including raptors like the hobby. It is a highly valued recreational and wildlife site and the impact of the gun club would be devastating.

“The surveys presented were inadequate, scientifically flawed and irrelevant.”

Clr Bowden added: “The environmental health advisers to the Government say that people living close to shoots suffer ‘hell on earth’, akin to being ‘next door to the Battle of the Somme every afternoon.’ “That is not a fair or reasonable outcome for local people and we are delighted that the committee agreed with us.”

While Clr Geoff Settle, from the Warrington Nature Conservation Forum, said the effect will be considerable on wildlife.

He added: “In our view there is no public need in the area for this intrusive development, the authority has an obligation to protect these important sites.”