Anyone wanting stretch to their legs on Warcop firing range now has a new way finding out when it is safe to do so.
Information about when it is safe to walk on Warcop firing range is now available on a public website thanks to efforts by the Cumbria Local Access Forum, Cumbria County Council and the Ministry of Defence.
Recent talks between the parties have led to an arrangement to make information more easily accessible by putting it on a special Ministry of Defence website and posting news on the county council's website (www.cumbria.gov.uk).
Warcop Training Area was established in 1942 to train troops for the D-Day landings in France. At 9,500 hectares, it is one of the army's largest multi firing facilities and is used to train the majority of the field army including the Territorial Army, is also used by a wide variety of army cadet forces for low-level training. An average of 130,000 soldiers will pass through Warcop in a year.
The ranges at Warcop are in use, on average, six-and-a-half days a week, 51 weeks of the year. Warcop is crossed by 11 footpaths and four bridleways and the public can get access to rights of way in the danger area when firing exercises are not taking place.
There are already access days and guided walks when the range is not in use, but some user-groups have commented that information about when the range can be safely used by civilians has been hard to come by.
The new arrangements should put an end to the problem and keep people better informed about pre-arranged and short notice access days.
Up to date information is now available at www.access.mod.ukand click on "other access opportunities. Information will also and will start appearing on the CCC website from .
Duncan Graham CBE, chairman of Cumbria Local Access Forum, said: "This is very good news. A lot of walkers, horse riders and other people are very keen to use the footpaths and bridleways on Warcop. Between us we have come up with a way of making sure that anyone who wants to explore the rights of way around the firing range will be able to find the information they need to do so more easily."
Clare Hetherington from Defence Estates is the land agent at Warcop. She said: "Information is already available in the local press, on notice boards in local villages, and from the access information hotline (0800 783 5181). A recently published public information leaflet, now available in the local tourist information centres, also details this information along with various permissive routes on Warcop. The new webpage however, will be of particular use for walkers and riders coming from further a field".
Ends
Media enquiries to Justin Hawkins, Media Officer on 01228 606334
Notes
Warcop Training Area is part of the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It includes many sites high conservation value and is home to 15 scheduled ancient monuments. Twenty farmers graze livestock there.
Information about access is already available in the local press, on notice boards in local villages, in a public information leaflet and from the access information hotline (0800 783 5181).