RESIDENTS of a rural community are up in arms at a gun club’s plans to virtually double the amount of days in a year they are allowed to shoot.

Bristol Clay Shooting has used land at Lower Withymore farm, between Kingswood and Hillesley, for more than five years and shoots on the 16 acre site take place on alternate Sundays between 9.30am and 2pm.

The club has made an application to increase the number of events held at the club, which are currently limited to 28 per year, to 52.

Hillesley resident Valerie Tewksbury is incensed at the plans, as she claims it already seems that the rural village is ‘under siege’.

"I am utterly aghast," said Valerie. "This essentially means that they would be able to shoot every weekend if they wanted to.

"It’s particularly bad in the summer and on bank holidays, when we can’t even sit out in our own gardens in peace.

"I really haven’t got anything against clay pigeon shooting as a sport, but this seems to be a particularly bad site for it, with the bangs vibrating around the hills. It’s like we get a ‘double whammy’.

However Neil Padfield, who runs the club, has defended the decision.

"I run the club as a senior instructor under the auspices of the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) and we have a good reputation.

"I don’t really want the extra days, but I have really been forced into this position because it is a way to stop the constant unfounded complaints.

"I have never exceeded the 28 day limit, but I believe I am being blamed for other people shooting in the area."

Mr Padfield added: "We have no intention of shooting every Sunday. We also use land at Huntingford and the people who shoot with us use both sites - I’m very good at what I do but I can’t be in two places at once.

"By making this application we are simply giving ourselves more options to keep within the limits."

Many Hillesley residents turned up to a meeting of Hillesley and Tresham Parish Council last week to voice their concerns.

As a result, the council has submitted a comment to Stroud District Council, objecting to the proposed changes at the club.

"We had not been officially informed of the application and this left us short of time," said council chairman Dave Darlow.

"Lots of residents are upset by these proposals, on the grounds of noise and road safety, as well as the aspect of personal danger.

"We are already aware of instances where fragments of broken clay have fallen into people’s gardens, not to mention the distress caused to animals. Parking on the roads also causes a hazard."

Consultation on the proposal ends January 26, to be decided by the planning committee of Stroud District Council on February 9.