| Clay
pigeon shooting is enjoyed by a growing number of participants
and can provide income and employment in rural areas, but
it is an inherently noisy sport that may annoy non-participants
The objective of these guidelines is to minimise such annoyance
whilst allowing the sport to be pursued in a reasonable and
considerate manner. They apply to practice and tuition sessions,
as well as competition, and provide guidance for other recreational
activities involving firearms, such as 'war games'.
Surrey is a densely populated county where
the countryside is heavily used for informal recreation. Therefore,
there are very few areas, if any, where clay pigeon shooting
is unlikely to disturb anyone. If such a location is found,
the guidelines may be relaxed. Local consultation and liaison
are important in conjunction with careful site selection and
operation in general accord with the guidelines.
Where an established site has been operating
without causing complaint, or local agreement has been reached,
there will normally be no need to require the pattern of use
to be modified, unless external circumstances or the character
of use alters significantly.
Local topography can affect noise attenuation
rates through channelling, reverberation and reflection, concentrating
noise and giving rise to greater levels than would be expected
in free field situations. It is considered, therefore, that
a more appropriate approach to noise control would be to set
noise limits for sensitive locations rather than simply to
quote separation distances.
The higher second and third levels reflect
the more temporary nature of any likely noise exposure in
the situations envisaged. Both suggested peak values may well
of course be some 20 to 30 dB(A) above pre-existing L90 background
noise levels in more rural areas of Surrey on days without
much wind.
Noise measurements with the IMPULSE meter
setting may be used alongside dB(A) FAST meter readings. All
measurements should be taken with the sound level meter at
least 3.6m from any reflecting surface, and at a height of
1.2m above the ground.
Shooting at a particular location should
only take place at a separation of at least 21 days. This
is regardless of how many individual clubs intend separately
using a given facility for clay pigeon shooting.
Only cartridges satisfying the 'best practIcable
means' concept incorporated in the Environmental Protection
Act 1990 should be permitted when a shoot is within 2 km of
noise sensitive premises.
At least 14 days before a first event is
proposed at a particular location, notices should be posted
on Parish Council notice hoards as well as in the immediate
area of the shoot venue. Notices should give the name and
telephone number of the secretary (or an equivalent contact)
in the organising club. Copies of the notice should always
be sent to the relevant Environmental Health Department(s).
At a shoot all associated public address
system announcements should be strictly controlled (in terms
of both volume and directivity) to the satisfaction of local
Environmental Health Department(s).
Skeet
shooting | What
is clay pigeon shooting |
The
Shotgun | Shooting
clays in Ireland |
Guidelines
for controlling noise from clay pigeon shooting |
Clay
Pigeon Shooting in Wales |
Sporting
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