Abandoned quarry targeted for archery

An area near Callander could be turned into an archery range.

Stirling and Trossachs District Scout Council has applied for a change of use of overgrown land plus the carrying out of ground works and building of a storage shed at Invertrossachs Scout Activity Centre on Invertrossachs Estate.

In documents submitted to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners with the application, the Scout Council said: “We want to repurpose a long abandoned small quarry into an archery range. The quarry is, as it stands, ‘dead ground’ and not an attractive place to explore or view and is seldom, if ever, visited.

“It is close to the estate road opposite the Scout Centre and, in our opinion, offers the safest and most accessible location for this activity.”

The Scout Council added that it had approached the factor of the estate and shown him the location and he had envisaged no issues in what was being proposed as far as the estate was concerned.

They added: “By the very nature of its previous use, the floor of the quarry for most parts is a collection of stones and boulders, is very uneven and difficult to negotiate.

“However, one advantage of this is that rain and other surface water finding its way into the quarry percolates through the boulders and eventually drains into the loch.

“In order to make this area safe for youngsters to use (as they are expected to recover the arrows they have fired) we would have to grade approximately 100m2 of the quarry floor, import approximately 30-40 tonnes of stone to bring it up to a uniform level, and cap it with a layer of Type 1.

“This would provide a safe, even surface between the firing position and the targets, or butts. By using a rock fill, we would expect the ground to still retain its ability to drain freely, plus we would be using a completely natural and appropriate material.

“The range would primarily be a perimeter post and wire fencing, with a top strand of barbed wire, to keep any inquisitive persons at a safe distance. The exact line of the fence is still to be determined, but would extend part ways around the lip of the quarry.

“If for safety reasons it was deemed necessary, additional fencing in the form of a close boarded or larch lap fence 1.8 metres high could be erected adjacent to the firing positions.

“The request for some decking is believed to be partly to prevent damage to the arrows and also for aesthetic reasons, so if this is problematic then it is a feature that could be dispensed with.”

Park planners are expected to make a recommendation on the application in due course.