Shooting centre sets sights on Commonwealth Games

PLANS have been unveiled for a £4.5million national shooting centre in West Lothian which would play host to events at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The proposal, put forward by the Scottish Target Shooting Federation, has already secured the support of Lothian and Borders Police.

The STSF said it hoped to create a "long lasting legacy" and has offered the force's Firearms Training Unit the opportunity to create a permanent base at the Scottish National Shooting Centre once the games are over.

The new facility would involve a major expansion from an existing clay pigeon shooting site at Morton Farm, which is five miles from Livingston.

During the games it would host pistol, rifle, clay pigeon, smallbore rifle and archery events for more than 200 athletes, and would become the base for Scotland's shooting associations after the games.

The STSF is already in discussions with police about licensing and security aspects, while Glasgow 2014 officials have already inspected the site and will make their selection at a later date.

John Douglas, the Earl of Morton, who owns the land on which the centre would be based, has backed the proposal to develop the facility.

He said: "Morton Farm is a very good site to host the Commonwealth Games because it's only 30 minutes from Glasgow and you have Edinburgh Airport nearby.

"There's also quite a few hotels in the area and plenty of accommodation for competitors and spectators.

"Once the games are over it would allow Scotland to host a range of international sporting events, and I understand there are already plans to cater for police firearms training.

"This would be world-class facility and it would be a big draw for clubs around the world."

In a letter to the shooting body's chairman Alexander Boyd, assistant chief constable Iain Livingstone said he supported the proposal in principle and that "the location of a proposed venue provides an excellent opportunity to draw together firearms training from across Scotland and for Lothian and Borders Police to host Scottish and UK national training courses."

He said today: "We have been involved in initial discussions with developers of the Scottish National Shooting Centre at Morton Farm in Livingston about the possible use of the site for firearms training following the Commonwealth Games.

"Use of these facilities may provide an excellent opportunity to draw together firearms training programmes from forces across the country.

However, discussions are at a very early stage."

Campaigners for the Scottish National Shooting Centre, which would host all disciplines of shooting and archery, say that the site would also bring together clubs from across Scotland and play host to major international shooting events.

Former Commonwealth athlete Sinclair Bruce, who is now performance manager for the Scottish Smallbore Rifle Association, which is part of the Scottish Target Shooting Federation, said: "As I understand it, there are several sites being considered, but it would be a huge boost for the sport if we had a purpose-built facility that would bring the various disciplines of shooting in Scotland under one roof, wherever it may be based.

"Efforts are being made to make the sport more spectator friendly and to make it more attractive to TV, and we're hoping the events at the Commonwealth Games will be a big boost for the sport."

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