HC Deb 05 May 1955 vol 540 cc164-5W
Dr. Bennett

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he has ascertained what causes the heavy detonations on the firing range at Browndown that are concussing the local residents and their houses, especially on Friday afternoons; and to whom claims for damage to either should be presented.

Mr. J. P. L. Thomas

A record has been kept of all explosions heard on the range, irrespective of whether or not they originated on it, but it contains no entry in recent months for any heavy explosion. As is the past, the firing of charges during Royal Marine training is only carried out on the part of the range furthest from houses and the maximum weight of these charges is less than 2 lb. In the past six months, exercises with explosives have taken place on 35 days, of which nine have been Fridays The Major General, Royal Marines, Portsmouth, is always prepared to give close attention to substantiated claims for damage arising from activities in establishments under his command. In the present case, however, it is not considered that any damage could be caused by the relatively small charges fired on the Browndown range.