HC Deb 18 June 1877 vol 234 c1945
CAPTAIN PIM

asked the Secretary of State for War, If he would explain the cause of closing the rifle range at Denton, Milton next Gravesend, which occasions great inconvenience to the local volunteers and loss to the borough; and whether he can hold out any hope that the range will shortly be re-opened for practice?

MR. GATHORNE HARDY,

in reply, said, the reason why the range in question had been closed was that the owners and occupiers of land in the locality found that the bullets occasionally fell in their fields, to the danger of themselves and their families. Under the circumstances, there was no option left but to close the range, and it would not be opened until some arrangement was made with the local occupiers. That would be effected as soon as possible.