Residents in a Radnorshire village are claiming violent explosions and a major escalation in action at a range are shaking their homes, scattering debris around their properties and causing vibrations to be felt miles away.
About 45 people attended a public meeting about the Radnor Ranges based at Harley Dingle in New Radnor last Thursday to tell Brecon and Radnorshire MP Roger Williams about their concerns.
Eric Smith of Haines Mill has lived at Haines Mill for 18 years in one of the closest dwellings to the range.
He said: “Over the first 14 years audible sounds were emitted from the range only two or three times a year, however, during the last four years we have experienced a major escalation in violent explosions, the volume of heavy goods and other vehicles entering and leaving, abuse of the bridleway by speeding contractors and range employees, and regular firing of weapons akin to rocket propelled grenades from areas outside the licensed area and very close to property and users of the bridleway.”
Mr Smith showed the meeting debris from the launch areas which he said he had collected from around his property, and he said he had been recording and filing noise logs for about 20 months with Powys Environmental Health.
He begged those in authority to press for a full public inquiry combined with an independent consultative risk assessment report.
One woman said the explosions frighten her animals. Others said cracks were appearing in their homes and they put it down to the explosions, and many residents said if they had an idea of when the explosions were likely to take place it would be helpful.
One man asked Mr Williams to try and get to the bottom of the policing of a Red Flag which used to be flown when firing and testing was taking place and for a couple of hours before, but he said a different policy now seemed to be in operation.
One woman said she lives at Llanfihangel Nant Melan and the noise coming from the range is much worse than any noise from the nearby quarry.
“My house dates back to 1864 and it shakes. It’s similar to when there was an earthquake along Long Mynd,” she said.
Mr Williams said he had already received many letters about activity at the range, with some complaints particularly about the noise, vibrations and the movement of traffic to the site, which was all having a dire effect on residents’ amenity.
He told the residents that the owner of the range was unable to attend the meeting but he had sent a statement in which he said the range had been established in the 1920s and was used to conduct trials on rocket mortars and other ordnance trials, and for military training.
He said the range was used by the Ministry of Defence, the army and the police, and tests ordnance with a view to minimising the loss of life of forces in the field and helps to ensure the safety of civilian and military personnel in Britain today.
The statement said the range was properly accredited and met all of the controls set down.
It said the staff at the range appreciated the support it had received from its immediate neighbours in New Radnor and the surrounding areas, and Mr Williams said he understood the company was keen to hold an open day or similar in the near future.
Chairman of Powys County Council’s Board, Councillor Michael Jones, told residents there was to be an extensive monitoring exercise carried out at the range on May 14 on a number of sites around the area.
He said they were going to hire in specialist equipment to do the testing in co-operation with the owner of the site.
But he said it was important to reassure the local residents that the monitoring was independently observed.
“It seems to me that under previous ownership, consultation with the community council and local people was better. I think that is something that is lacking. I think local people would have more confidence if they had a schedule of blasting times and they were prepared for the blasts. The new owners do have a responsibility to local people,” he said.
Mr Williams said he would take the concerns to the owners of the range and see if there could be more consultation with local people and the community council. He also said he would look into many of the issues raised.