Plans submitted for West Berkshire's first fly fishing training facility and underground rifle range
WEST Berkshire may get Europe’s first fly fishing training facility and underground rifle range after a Berkshire shooting school submitted an application for the major new development, despite some concern over increased noise pollution.
Royal Berkshire Shooting School (RBSS) has submitted proposals for the facility, to be based at Tomb Farm, Ashampstead, to go with its existing shooting school.
Plans involve a 7.3 hectare fly fishing training facility and an underground rifle range, together with ancilliary buildings comprising an educational and welfare facility and some landscaping.
If West Berkshire Council approves the plans the rifle range would be located to the north east of the site, made up of two 100m tunnels, and the fly fishing training facility would be located along the eastern boundary with the pools of water covering a surface area of 6,440square metres.
The existing 50 car parking spaces would remain and the new facility would employ four full-time members of staff.
Founder of the RBSS Dylan Williams said: “Since we established the business 24 years ago in 1991, we are very proud that we have worked alongside the local community and have helped to raise over £23m for worthy causes over this time and become a significant employer in the very rural location.
“The rationale behind wishing to create a teaching facility is for those who would like to pursue the sport of fly fishing as there is no facility as far as we know in Europe providing what we hope to achieve – moving water of variable flow replicating a whole river system from spring to estuary all under expert tuition.
“We will make water safety and the importance of managing and maintain wetland habitats, a key aspect of lessons that we give.
“The art of fly fishing is a silent one.
“We are not wishing to amend, alter or increase any aspects of the planning conditions we trade under for the shooting school whatsoever. We have worked within these for 24 years with no issues or concerns.
“The beauty of placing the rifle range underground, as has been done within a National Park in the North of England, assures total silence.
“I would like to think that on arrival, [people] would expect to see a beautiful part of Berkshire being enhanced by a lake, managed sympathetically, but providing the finest tuition in the sport of clay pigeon shooting and fishing working with the local community and something all can be proud of.”
The proposal has already attracted a great deal of support with one representation made by a multi award-winning shooter and clay-shooting champion expressing his support.
George Digweed said of the proposal: “As an individual who has won 25 world championships around the world, I have been fortunate to experience and see shooting grounds and the way they are run.
“Having watched the RBSS grow and develop over the last 25 years, they are a flag bearer for the sport globally and I feel sure they will do the same for fishing and in so doing help the local community, encourage youngsters to explore and enjoy the outdoors and continue to demonstrate how land and its management in integration with good business should co-exist.”
Director of Fly Fisher Group Henry Mountain said: “As someone involved in the fishing industry, there is a complete lack of a facility in the south of England where people can learn to cast on flowing water without actually purchasing expensive fishing on a river.
“I believe this planning application and the creation of a unique venue to be of enormous interest to those currently fly fishing and to those getting into the sport.”
Not all of the public representations were in support, however, and one Streatley resident, Alasdair Pearson, said: “The council’s planning and environmental officers will be well aware of the kind of local noise pollution that has been a feature of this shooting school since permission was granted almost 20 years ago, but perhaps not of the extent.
“On days when the wind is coming from an easterly direction the noise of shooting can clearly be heard outside the library in Goring village.”
He added that he objects on the grounds that more customers would increase the number of shooters, increasing both noise and traffic.
West Berkshire Council will make a decision on the application at a later date.
