![The MOD Rejects "Firing Range Death Trap" Claim](/sites/default/files/3184762_b862c00d.jpg "The MOD Rejects "Firing Range Death Trap" Claim")
Tri-Service
MOD Rejects "Firing Range Death Trap" Claim
The Ministery of Defence has rejected claims that military training grounds have become ‘death traps’ after criticism from Unite.
The union has issued a press release claiming 'look-out' wardens had been withdrawn due to the MOD's drive to reduce costs.
More than 80 sites including those at Otterburn, Castlemartin and Pirbright are said to be affected.
Unite regional officer Bob Middleton wrote to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation saying:
“This important safety issue is no longer subject to discussion as Landmarc do not have enough employees to now cover all of the ranges that used to be covered under the Vanguard contract."
Responding to the allegations the Defence Infrastructure Organisation issued a statement saying:
“The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and Landmarc work together to provide a safe place for the military to train. When a range is in use it is handed over to the unit training, overseen by a qualified and experienced Range Conducting Officer who is a member of the unit and responsible for the safe conduct of that exercise.”
Unite however asserted that there has been a number of incidents including:
“...a group of Gurkha soldiers, who were using the ranges at Hythe in Kent, decided to walk down the range they were using to the foreshore.“The range next to them was still being used. They were, therefore, in the arc of fire and could have been injured or killed."
The DIO however directly rejected this claim:
Unite’s reference to the incident at Hythe is not accurate. Firing on that range had not commenced for the day, so the personnel were in no danger at that time. Firing on all ranges at Hythe was delayed to review the situation as access to the area in question is prohibited when the range is occupied.
Unite's Bob Middleton added:
“We wrote to Defence Secretary Michael Fallon on this issue, but received no direct reply. Yet, a family with young children out walking the family labrador could take a wrong turn and be blown to smithereens because of the government’s privatisation agenda."
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