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THE HEAD of the Army has come out against the plan to hold the Olympic shooting at Woolwich Barracks in a blow likely to be terminal to the venue.
General Sir Richard Dannatt, the chief of the general staff, says the Army has an "operational requirement" for the barracks which precludes their use as an Olympic site. Since being chosen for the Games in 2005, Woolwich has become busier as other London garrisons have closed.
Glynn Alger, secretary-general of the National Rifle Association, told the Standard: "General Dannatt personally approached me to write the shooting element of a minute from him to the Defence Secretary asking that the shooting be moved from Woolwich. I have spoken to him and he is quite happy for me to tell you that the Army do not want the Games at Woolwich because they have an operational requirement for Woolwich."
The Ministry of Defence yesterday refused to deny that General Dannatt had intervened.
Key military units, including the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, which guards the royal family, are moving into Woolwich because barracks at Chelsea and St John's Wood are closing. The Woolwich site also accommodates hundreds of soldiers and their families. There are fears they would have to be moved for safety reasons.
General Dannatt's minute, to the then Defence Secretary, Des Browne, said that the Army could not do without the barracks if it was to perform its full range of London duties. Mr Alger said: "The brief was given to Des Browne and is supposed to have been passed on to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Sir Richard's ADC is currently chasing how far it has been distributed."
General Dannatt shook the Government in 2006 when he told a newspaper that British policy in Iraq was a failure. He is known for his strong support of his troops and is understood to be unhappy that they will face further upheaval so soon after moving.
Woolwich has long been among the most controversial Olympic venues. It emerged this week that it will cost at least £42million - well above the original estimate of £30million. It is strongly opposed by the NRA and by British Shooting, the sport's governing body, who are concerned that the venue will leave no permanent legacy. British Shooting wants to move the event back to Bisley in Surrey, the venue in the original Olympic bid.
Mr Alger said: "We are ready with a full plan, a building plan, an accommodation plan, a transport and security plan for Bisley. We come in at about half the budget for Woolwich and we are mystified that we cannot get through the door to discuss it."
Shooting was moved to Woolwich in the belief that the barracks would offer an "iconic" backdrop for television cameras.
However, their position in a built-up area will cause huge safety problems. The South Circular Road, which runs alongside, and another road used to access the local hospital will have to be closed in case motorists are injured by stray bullets.
The Olympic Development Authority was last week revealed to be considering a purpose-built facility in Barking. Sources said it was believed that Bisley could deliver the shooting for £30 million.
Reader views (20)
Lots of good debate about where etc,but can I ask a general legal question of whether we can even hold ANY of the games, if we are not able to train and compete at all sports at the same level with the same equipment?
As an active club level air pistol shooter and .22LR target rifle shooter (Styer& Anschutz respectively)
I would love to have a .22LR 'free' pistol IE. the Morini, however mine for the UK must have silly 'stabilizers'. so is not the same as competitors from other countries, so could I cut them off for the the Olympics (were I that good a shot!)or if they stayed on and I won (again, doubtful!)would other competitors complain of an unfair advantage?
I would like to hear if anyone knows the legal ruling on this so we can scrap the lot before we spend any more money we can ill afford - I moved from a London borough because I just know more tax will be on it's way to pay for all this - Also I doubt I will attend any events as the transport will fail, security will be nightmare and it will be too crowded - may watch on TV or just go on holiday, as shooting will not me shown on TV for more than a millisecond even if we win Gold medals
- Kevin, Downham Market, Norfolk, UK
Bisley is the shooting Mecca of Great Britain. To have the shooting venue anywhere else is unbelievable. It is good to hear the Army are standing up to everyone by saying no to Woolwich. There is no requirement to build a new complex, Bisley is perfect. In this time of financial worries can we really afford to waste money ?
- Jane, Cornwall
Bisley is the world's most pre-eminent shooting sports venue. Given a choice, it is where the global shooting sports community would like to compete, if only once.
- P, Bisley
Having competed in the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games that had all of the shooting held in Bisley and none in Manchester then this is the truth. The Government wants no legacy for the shooting sports. Even with escalating costs they are still budgeting over £2m to demolish this facility at the end of the Games. This may sound paranoid but there can be no other reason. Bisley is already known world wide and would provide a proper legacy.
- Rob Thomas, Tondu, Wales
Hold it in Paris, along with rest of the £20b 3 week international drugsfest.
Londoners were never asked whether they wanted the Olympics, and we don't. If Coe et al are so keen on it let them pay for it themselves, they should be able to afford it, they've had their snouts in the trough long enough.
- Oscillator, London
Nobby - 'operational requirement' means that the Army has a need to use it in order to carry out the operations at home and abroad that the government requires it to do. There, that wasn't too difficult was it ?
- Peter Haldane, London
"Really. Stray bullets!
Does Andrew Gilligan think the 2012 Olympics shooting competition will be between the Thamesmead T-Block gang and the Woolwich Boyz?"
Rifle and pistol events obviously have backstops behind the targets and do not pose a problem.
The issue is with the clay events. CPSA guidelines state clay target layouts should have a minimum safety zone of 300yds, which cannot be gained without closing roads, etc or else the shot will end up in residential areas (or massive concrete walls will have to be constructed to contain shot - obscuring the "iconic backdrop" of the barracks.
Shooting to Bisley
- Richard, Southampton
Another ludicrous decision by this apalling government appears to have gone t*ts up. I hope the NRA at Bisley tell them to get stuffed !. Let 'em find somewhere else to hold the shooting ..... if they can. However, if they were to repeal the handgun ban that might be a different matter .................
- James Mcnair, England
Anyone can see these Olympics are going to be a disaster. London just isn't suitable. And please, Americans, keep out of the debate - it really has nothing to do with you (not that that ever stops you).
- Doubtingthomas, Steep UK
What a clever idea moving the Kings Troop to the Eastern hemisphere (the other side of the Greenwich meridian) so that they have to bus in to town to work. With all the cuts affecting the army I wouldn't be surprised if the Kings Troop were not forced in to using wooden horses to save money.
- Rob, London
Hold the shooting in Afganistan!!
- Marke, Houston, Texas
Just for you Nobby, as you've obvioulsy not read the article.
1) military units, including the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, which guards the royal family, are moving into Woolwich because barracks at Chelsea and St John's Wood are closing. The Woolwich site also accommodates hundreds of soldiers and their families.
2) However, their position in a built-up area will cause huge safety problems. The South Circular Road, which runs alongside, and another road used to access the local hospital will have to be closed in case motorists are injured by stray bullets.
as i live in the area this would cause major problems, as the south circular is a major route in the area, and closing the roads would cause huge problems.
3) Bisley is the home of shooting, the ranges are excellent, and if the NRA can Upgrade Bisley for less than the £42 mill that woolwich would cost, then go for Bisley.
- Leigh Groombridge, South East London
'Challenge the general on what', Woolwich is surposed to be a military establishment not a bloody theme park, if he does not want you there that should be it, no explaining to be done.
- Col, West London
Hold it in Clapton or Peckham then,nothing unusual there.
- Eddie, London
I shot at Bisley as a member of a regimental team (army)we always regarded it as a great honour to shoot at the Holy Grail.
How the "powers" can even consider having a unique event like this anywhere but the spiritual home of British shooting is beyond me.
- Peter, Darlington England
Really. Stray bullets!
Does Andrew Gilligan think the 2012 Olympics shooting competition will be between the Thamesmead T-Block gang and the Woolwich Boyz?
He failed to stop the Olympics coming to London and seems to have failed to stop it coming to Greenwich. Like plenty of Greenwich residents before him he has a go at Woolwich, dragging in all and sundry for support. Perhaps he should take his bike for a ride eastwards and see the improvements and potential in Woolwich, e.g. the Royal Arsenal and the DLR. If he doesn't sabotage it, we'll have the Waterfront Transit too.
- Tom Headon, Abbey Wood, London, UK
What is an "operational requirement"? Why doesn't anyone challenge the General on this? Does it mean that he doesn't want the proles seeing a top secret military installation? Or more likely, does he just want to stop us trampling on his prize roses?
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
No, the NRA and Bisley should not support any Olympic competition shooting until the government repeals the 1997 Firearms Acts. British sportsmen are currently not allowed to train or compete, but foreigners can.
This is wrong.
I am appalled that the government can consider spending £42 million on a Olympic shooting centre, and plan to immediately demolish it when the games are over.
- Clive Allen, Brighton, UK
What's wrong with Bisley, the home of UK shooting? Shooters are outside the athletic facility requirments of the Games so it would cause no hardship,it already exists and above all would save money which is paramount.
- Robin, Brentford, UK
Bisley is 'iconic'. Anything else is barmy and a waste of money. Tough times need tough decisions. Come on London 2012!
- Lester May, Camden Town, London, England
