NSRA Detailed Proposal and Site Outline

The proposed Olympic Shooting Venue site at Bisley would have all new building on the west side of the proposed pedestrian piazza together with the existing facilities on the east side, all in one location; site security should therefore be easily controlled during and after construction. The new buildings will all be built on MOD land between the existing Lord Roberts Centre and the adjacent army camp facilities. The area is scrub woodland that will require clearing prior to any building taking place. The land has not been used for at least the last sixty years and the military authorities should be prepared to provide whatever area is required. Some new roadways will be required to ease construction and for future use. The new car park should probably form the initial construction enabling building staff on other later projects to park more easily and be controlled by security staff. The new car park could then also provide much needed additional parking for existing facilities.

Range supervision at Bisley will be easier than at any other site. Range officers for all disciplines already exist and probably live close to Bisley. Section 5 certification will be necessary for all pistol range officers for the duration of the Games should they have to handle any S5 pistols.

Surrey Police are fully practised with the issue and control of Section 5 Firearms and their licensing. They are also familiar with the movement of Section 5 Firearms and their security from airports or ports of entry to the armoury at Bisley.

Multi Storey Car Park

This is to provide adequate parking for the venue. We suggest four floors accommodating approximately two hundred cars per floor. Car parking at Bisley is currently insufficient for the Olympics. Much more will be required. With this proposed facility visitors can be controlled, their access to the venue site secure and manageable. Movement around the remainder of the site will be by foot or by camp bus.

For site security, visitors’ cars entering Bisley camp will be directed immediately to the car park, their egress from the car park will then be directly into a pedestrian covered walk way into the finals building or into the piazza, and thus to all areas of the venue. Movement to the shotgun facilities will be by camp bus. Car access to the hotel and other camp areas will be restricted and by special pass only.

POST GAMES

The top or two top floors of the car park will be constructed without internal pillars to enable their use after the Games for other sports activities.

Spectator seating will be moved from other areas and re-installed (together with limited heating and showers for competitors) also installed will be Inline hockey rinks for both hockey and five aside football and also indoor cricket. The ground and first floors will still provide sufficient parking for the Centre’s future use.

Lord Roberts Centre

The existing 50 metre small-bore ranges will require upgrading with the latest electronic equipment and physical alterations to enable adequate seating and individual display monitors to be installed for each competitor. The first floor air gun ranges are unsuitable for Olympic competition due to the inadequate construction of the floor. Therefore new air gun ranges will be provided with the Finals Range in the new adjacent building.

As the first floor will now no longer be required for competition this space will be available for the press plus all shooting competitors providing changing and recreation areas with full restaurant and refreshment facilities available throughout the day. It is possible that kitchen facilities will have to be added to this area to fulfil its user potential.

To enable separation of competitors possibly with their guns from visitors, there will be a walk way at first floor level from the competitors only area of Lord Roberts Centre across to the air gun and finals range over and above the pedestrian piazza. This will allow competitors complete separation from the general visiting public and give them free movement around the venue.

New Finals Range, Air Gun and 25 Metre Pistol Ranges

This new building on the west side of the Piazza, opposite Lord Roberts Centre, will house a new 60 lane 10 metre air gun range, 30 lane 25 metre pistol range and the ten position Finals Range for all Olympic finals. The outdoor 25 and 50 metre range will be facing north to enable competition at any time of day without shadows on the target area.

The building will also house a reception area, visitor refreshments, a café and bar area. New medical test facilities will also be built within this building and if required any other official accommodation

POST GAMES

The finals range will be modified to reduce the audience maximum to approximately five hundred places, and additional audio visual and theatrical facilities will be installed to provide greater future use of this space.

Shotgun Range

This facility was originally constructed for the Commonwealth Games but will require some modification to bring it to Olympic standard.

New seating and visitor comforts will be necessary. Visitor parking will be at Lord Roberts Centre, with buses partially controlling visitor access to this area.

POST GAMES

This facility will require some reinstatement to allow it to then continue in full use.

Alternatively a completely NEW shotgun range could be built adjacent to the complex as at Woolwich to aid competitor movement, site security and future legacy.

Competitor Accommodation

The competitors’ accommodation was originally planned to be at Holloway College at Egham. I understand that this is now being used for the rowers at Eton Dorney, and it would be convenient if space could also be found for the shooting competitors, as travelling distances would be very similar.

If Holloway College is unavailable Guildford University Campus is approximately the same distance and I understand fully available; or the proposed on site hotel could be enlarged, with additional accommodation within Bisley camp also made available. Further investigation is necessary.

Bisley Lodge Hotel

The proposed hotel does not yet form part of the proposed Olympic facilities at Bisley. Planning permission for this hotel was passed some five years ago, and it has now become important for the financial future of the National Shooting Centre and Lord Roberts Centre for the hotel to be built and opened within the next two to three years.

The hotel design at present has one hundred en suite double bedrooms to three or four star standard. There is a large glass roofed atrium and private party dining areas. The design and size of the hotel can still at this time be influenced to aid the Olympic facilities if desired.

David Lattimore NSRA                                          

February 2007