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Sim G wrote:When our club looked to set up our own range, we discovered that there was actually oodles of money about for such a thing from Sport England and the Lottery charities. The trick was knowing how to apply for it. If the NRA truly wish to be national, then we really need facilities around the whole UK. Unfortunately this would mean a level of business acumen and an openness to scrutiny that the NRA have shown over previous decades that they do not possess....

Sim you are right, but I feel things have changed since Andrew Mercer took over. Prior to that the NRA were just a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs - at least now there is some business acumen which seems to be making money and drawing more members to Bisley, but the effect of this has been to stretch resources even more as it is increasingly more difficult to book ranges at Bisley. Making money is one thing but it has to be balanced against the service given to members. The fact the NRA earn well from leasing Short Siberia to the Nuclear Police is one thing, but depriving members from using it most of the time is hardly likely to enthuse the membership. It certainly does not me when I want to use it mid week.

Can't dispute anything you've said, Colin. Imagine four "Bisleys" around the country. With half a dozen smaller "Bisleys" dotted about. Imagine, getting up on a morning, wherever in the country you are and thinking, "I'll pop out for a quick shoot" and have a facility within 45 minutes....

(Some smart arse will pipe up now that he can because of the zillion acres of his permissions...)

It would be nice to envisage the NRA/Bisley making sufficient financial surpluses to over the coming years to fund the building of regional facilities, difficult to imagine that a 600yd gallery range would be viable in the foreseeable future, however surely it should be possible to create a few 100/200 yard ranges across the country especially if suitable sites are bought to the attention of the NRA by members and actively pursued by regional reps. Whether these would be standalone ventures or jointly with existing clubs I've no idea.

Applying for grant money and filling in the forms "correctly" is a talent in itself. It must take into account things like social inclusion, diversity how many will use the facility etc etc...

Best get an expert on grant applicaions to do it.

I just had a long conversation with Nic Couldrey, the NRA Regional Ranges Manager, having emailed him previous with the points made in discussion here.

No disagreement from NIc that the NRA need to spread their influence beyond Bisley. He has been visiting ranges and clubs throughout the country and is formulating plans to evaluate leasing defunct ranges from the MOD. As he says it maintains a military range should they need to use it in the future and provides them an income. Problem is that the NRA are unable to compete with property developers when MOD land becomes available. It is therefore imperative to offer the MOD a deal that is future proof should they need to have continued access to a range, but divest any responsibility for running it and get an income. He is already looking at a couple of sites.

He thought the NRA sponsoring/partnering suitable privately owned ranges a good idea that he would pursue and requested that we provide him with details of any ranges throughout the country that might be of interest - email Nicholas.Couldrey@nra.org.uk or talk to him on 01483 797777. He is a good guy and appreciates that the NRA needs to quickly remodel itself to offer a service to shooters throughout the country, so lets give him the help he needs as he is clearly working on our side.

artiglio wrote:It would be nice to envisage the NRA/Bisley making sufficient financial surpluses to over the coming years to fund the building of regional facilities, difficult to imagine that a 600yd gallery range would be viable in the foreseeable future, however surely it should be possible to create a few 100/200 yard ranges across the country especially if suitable sites are bought to the attention of the NRA by members and actively pursued by regional reps. Whether these would be standalone ventures or jointly with existing clubs I've no idea.

If Nic Couldrey (NRA Regional Ranges Manager) is successful in acquiring the leasehold of defunct MOD ranges as he is planning you will have your 600yard ranges and more. In the meantime give him details of independently owned ranges that the NRA might join in partnership with.

Now that is a way forward! It is desperately what the sport needs.

Sim G wrote:Can't dispute anything you've said, Colin. Imagine four "Bisleys" around the country. With half a dozen smaller "Bisleys" dotted about. Imagine, getting up on a morning, wherever in the country you are and thinking, "I'll pop out for a quick shoot" and have a facility within 45 minutes....

(Some smart arse will pipe up now that he can because of the zillion acres of his permissions...)

Sim - That is exactly what a NATIONAL Rifle Association is all about and what power that would give to our elbow. As I said before most non shooters don't even know there is an NRA in this country. I just talked with Nic Couldrey the NRA Regional Ranges Manager who seems to be on the case. If only someone could have taken up this gauntlet fifty years ago, think where we might be now!

ColinR, apologies if my post gave the impression that I knew of any such opportunities, unfortunately I do not, I'm fortunate enough to be within 2 hours of Bisley and as such its my venue of choice, something closer would be nicer but anything the NRA does should be for the benefit of the midlands and north of England if ,as most would agree, the NRA is to appeal to a much larger number of shooters.
The prospect of gaining leases to defunct MOD ranges and bringing them to regular use is surely the best and hopefully most cost effective option. Fingers crossed the NRA are successful.

ColinR wrote:
If Nic Couldrey (NRA Regional Ranges Manager) is successful in acquiring the leasehold of defunct MOD ranges as he is planning you will have your 600yard ranges and more. In the meantime give him details of independently owned ranges that the NRA might join in partnership with.

hopefully the lease will be very long?? shame they can't look at just buying the land and let the mod lease it back from them.

or at least with leasing it, maybe that will release them from landmarc hoops and allow it to be run like over ranges in the country. 77we just need more decent sized, full bore able, equiped ranges that are able to be open more than just on sunday, in this country