THE owner of a shooting school has reapplied for planning permission and said the council's refusal has "massively" impacted his business.
Acorn Shooting, at Beacon Hill Farm near Amesbury, was denied permission to operate the site following concerns from the Ministry of Defence.
QinetiQ and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation opposed the initial planning application, submitted in September 2020, and said the shooting would create a "distraction hazard" for pilots landing at Boscombe Down.
The MOD said birds had been scared away from the shooting ground and posed a "very real hazard" as they flew through the main runway.
Wiltshire Council refused Acorn Shooting's application to change the use of the woodland to a clay pigeon shooting school on April 21, 2022.
However, business owner Desmond Sturgess is determined to gain approval for the site and submitted a new planning application on December 21, 2023.
The 61-year-old is permitted to run the shooting school for just 28 days each year without official planning permission but he said he has "reduced income at every corner" by not being able to open full-time.
"It's hard for me to see a reason why it should not be approved, that is why we have persevered. We're comfortably under the noise threshold. We don't want to upset anyone," he added.
The "one-man-band" has run shooting schools across the south west since 1996 and has gained a following for tutoring and competing at an international level.
Beacon Hill is currently a non-profit making entity and since its inception, Mr Sturgess' income has reduced significantly.
The shooting school would operate six days per week from 9am to dusk, except Sundays, depending on the season, weather and demand.
Most days only one or two people would be under tuition at any one time and Mr Sturgess anticipates a maximum of 20 cars per day most days.
Mr Sturgess has prepared a noise report to accompany the planning documents and said his shotgun pellets only reach 400 feet. Pilots are required to fly above 500 feet.
He said: "Three years in you're wondering what is going to happen. My honest thought is that it is not getting accepted and my best chance of getting permission will be to appeal.
"Hopefully common sense will prevail."
The first application was met with support from Amesbury Town Council and residents who were in favour of increasing the area's leisure offer.
Nigel Solley commented: "I think the addition of a clay shoot locally is a great idea and will be a boost for the local economy.
Bradley Summerhayes also supported the plans, he commented: "The loss of the clay shoot at Larkhill due to the soldiers rebating plan was a great loss to the area.
"Opening a replacement shoot in the vicinity would hopefully be a massive boost for the area and the sport."
The Ministry of Defence was contacted and asked to provide a comment on the new plans.
To view the new planning application (PL/2023/11131) click here.
The 2020 planning application (20/07444/FUL) can be viewed by clicking here.
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