MORE than 1,000 people have signed a petition blasting plans for a year-round clay pigeon and target shooting centre within 200m of a nationally-renowned orchard and nature reserve.

Applicant Tim Shayle of Countryman Sports has applied for permission to use forestry land near Hartpury Heritage Orchard - home to the National Perry Pear Centre.

Natural England says it has no objection to the proposal, which includes archery, and which has also been backed by some who say outdoor sports are needed.

But local residents say the noise will be like the “sound of a jet engine taking off around 20 times a day’, and hundreds have signed the petition supported by the orchard trust, which claims a full-time range at Mount Olivers Meadow in Blackwells End will frighten away at-risk red-list bird species and other creatures at the centre’s wetlands.

The proposed site is already used for shooting 28 days of the year, and the applicant wants to make it year-round from 9am to 7pm for up to 200 days a year, including clay pigeon shooting, field target shooting where ‘hunters’ tackle a circuit of targets in woodland or open fields, and rifle target shooting.

Naturalist Stephen French has told Forest Council planners the perry centre, where rare fruits are grown to save them from extinction, is “a wildlife haven” where he has recorded hundreds of species that will be potentially driven out if round-the-year shooting goes ahead.

“The orchard centre is intrinsically linked to the site of the proposed shooting centre as I have recorded numerous birds and many insects moving between both sites,” he says.

“The proposed ranges are less than 200m from the lower ponds and just the other side of the lane to the main orchard and there are no acoustic bunds there.”

The orchards host an “abundance of bird life’, he adds, including “many species on the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern.”

“I have been on the site when the permitted Sunday shoots have taken place and seen the ponds clear of wildfowl. I can only imagine what effect regular clay pigeon shooting may have,” he says.

And he claims that future public nature events there could also be hit by the “cacophony of noise”.

“People need a place to escape and unwind. The environment here is perfect for this,” he says.

Ruth Galloway, who launched the petition ‘Stop the Clay Shoot/Rifle Shoot Blackwells End’ on www.change.org last week, claims the shots will disturb wildlife and spook horses, with Hartpury University’s world-renowned equine centre close by, alongside walkers, cyclists and residents.

“The noise of one shotgun being fired is 120-150 decibels, the same as a jet engine taking off at 100ft. This application seeks to have up to 20 of these for 10 hours a day,” she said.

She has also told planners: “This concentration and amount of shooting will hugely affect the peace and quiet of this area with substantial noise pollution to local residents, pets and local wildlife…

“This application is greedy, hugely impactful on environment, wildlife and residents, including successful and established studs and equine businesses.”

Hartpury Orchard Centre has urged people to support the petition, saying it is home to rare species like lapwings, yellowhammers, kingfishers, whinchats and bullfinches.

It says granting permission will “irrevocably ruin” their habitat.

Jim Chapman, who donated 25 acres of land to the centre and nature reserve, says that alongside the hundreds of rare pear varieties, it is home to 15 rare bird species, more than 450 different types of moth, 40 types of beetle, 30 of hoverflies and 17 of dragonflies and damselflies.

Mum-of-two Catherine McGilvray, who lives nearby with her family, told planners her eldest child was “terrified of loud noise” and the plan was “upsetting and worrying”.

“Even the current infrequent use creates an awful noise. I dread to think how badly it would impact our family were it to become as frequent as 200 days a year, potentially from first thing in the morning right into the evening,” she said.

Linda Barr added that she was already “extremely affected by the noise generated by the clay shoot” despite the business putting in noise bunds several years ago.

And Christine Pates added that the “sharp ‘cracks’ of the guns” was already “uncomfortable and intrusive” and “hurt” her ears.

A report on behalf of the scheme says activities would be limited to bookable sessions and would generally not occur concurrently.

“Once the enterprise is fully established, session hours will be adjusted depending on popularity, but for planning purposes the applicant would like as much flexibility as possible,” it says.

“Opening times would ideally be 12 months of the year with less sessions running over the winter…

“In addition, it is hoped that the centre will be a facility recommended by the police for firearms training, the applicant having been approached by Gloucestershire Police to see whether this would be possible.

“Taking account of the existing use of the site for 28 days a year, the acoustic bunds already in place and the continuation of agreed shooting directions for clay target and rifle shooting, the noise effects arising from the proposed operation will not be harmful at the nearest noise sensitive receptors as demonstrated by the noise measurements which demonstrate compliance…

“In determining the planning application for the construction of the bunds, the Forest of Dean District Council (FoDDC) concluded that with the bunds in place, the shooting would not be detrimental to the living conditions of neighbouring properties.”

Some who have attended shooting days there have backed the plan.

Matthew Heckford of Gloucester said: ”On every occasion sound levels were monitored around nearby properties and found to be within the recommended guidelines.

“The owner has ensured as much as possible to deflect noise from any habitation.”

And Matthew Phillips said: “Outdoor activities should be encouraged after the pandemic and additional days at this venue will allow more people to enjoy the sport while maintaining social distance.”