HC Deb 12 March 1982 vol 19 cc497-8W
Dr. John Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the House of Commons Library details of existing byelaws associated with the control of boating activities in the vincinity of coastal defence establishments, together with charts of the areas of sea and coast thus controlled, showing how such areas are delineated; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Wiggin

[pursuant to his reply, 22 February 1982, c. 303.]: I have done so today. Several of the byelaws were introduced many years ago, and not all contain plans for the sea areas affected. The cost of making plans available in such cases would not be justified. Amendments to byelaws are in progress in some of these locations and new byelaws are to be introduced at others.

Dr. John Cunningham

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list in the Official Report the names and locations of coastal defence establishements where firing to sea takes place; what restrictions on sailing and boating are in force at each establishment; whether restrictions are enforced through byelaws in each case, giving the area of sea and coast affected by such restrictions; and if he will made a statement.

Mr. Wiggin

[pursuant to his reply, 22 February 1982, c. 303.]: The following is a list of coastal ranges whose danger areas extend over both land and sea. Ranges whose danger areas extend only over the sea are excluded.

Navy
Air Weapons Range Bridgewater Bay, Somerset
Bombardment Range Cape Wrath, Highland
Infantry Weapons Range Kingsdown, Deal Kent
Fraser Range Eastney, Hants
British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre Raasay, Skye and Lochalsh
Infantry Weapons Range Straight Point, Devon
Firing Range HMS Cambridge, Wembury, Devon
Small Arms Range Grove Point, Portland, Dorset
Army
Infantry Weapons Range Ballykinler, Co. Down
Infantry Weapons Range Barry Budeon, Tayside
The Royal Artillery Range Benbecula, Western Isles
Infantry Weapons Range Blackdog, Grampian
Infantry Weapons Range Caldicott (Severn Tunnel) Gwent
The Royal Armoured Corps Range Castlemartin, Dyfed
Infantry Weapons Range Chickerell, Dorset
Infantry Weapons Range Fingringhoe, Essex
Infantry Weapons Range Fort George, Highland
Infantry Weapons Range Hornsea, Yorks
Infantry Weapons Range Hythe, Kent
The Royal Armoured Corps Range Lulworth, Dorset
Infantry Weapons Range Lydd, Kent
Infantry Weapons Range Iydden Spout, Kent
Infantry Weapons Range Magilligan, Co Londonderry
The Royal Artillery Range Manorbier, Dyfed
Infantry Weapons Range Penally, Dyfed
Infantry Weapons Range Pilning, Avon
Infantry Weapons Range Sealand, Cheshire
Infantry Weapons Range Shoeburyness, Essex
Infantry Weapons Range Tregantle, Cornwall
Infantry Weapons Range Ty Croes, Gwynedd
The Royal Engineers Demolition Range Yantlet, Kent
Royal Air Force
Air Weapons Range Cowden, Humberside
Air Weapons Range Donna Nook, Lines
Air Weapons Range Holbeach, Lines
Air Weapons Range Pembrey, Dyfed
Air Weapons Range Tain, Highland
Air Weapons Range Wainfleet, Lines
Procurement Executive
Royal Aircraft Establishment Aberporth, Dyfed
Proof and Experimental Establishment Eskmeals, Cumbria
Military Vehicle Experimental Establishment Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway
Aircraft Bombing Sea Range Luce Bay, Dumfries and Galloway
Proof and Experimental Establishment Pendine, Dyfed
Proof and Experimental Establishment Shoeburyness, Essex
Territorial Army
Infantry Weapons Range Altcar, Merseyside
Infantry Weapons Range Binn Hill, Grampian
Infantry Weapons Range Dingwall, Highland
Infantry Weapons Range Lower Barvas, Isle of Lewis
Infantry Weapons Range Pakefield, Suffolk
Infantry Weapons Range Whitburn, Tyne and Wear
Infantry Weapons Range Wick, Highland

Mandatory restrictions on sailing and boating can only be imposed to the extent that these are provided for in byelaws, copies of which I have placed in the Library. The sea areas covered by such mandatory restrictions are designated in the byelaws. In a few cases, however, defence establishments may have understandings with local sailing and boating communities, under which boats voluntarily leave those parts of the sea danger area in which firing is to take place. Of course, clear range procedures are followed to ensure that no boat in the danger area is at risk.

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