WAR games, using low power pellet guns, are to be allowed on the former MoD site at Chickerell.

A temporary year-long approval was given to the use, only on Sundays, by West Dorset planners on Thursday (Dec 6).

The consent went through despite concerns about war gaming on the Sabbath and a fear that it might frighten horses and other wildlife.

But the committee was told the guns make little noise and that the majority of the activity was likely to be insider old buildings left on the site by the army when it stopped using the training area in 2002.

The consent also gives permission to the existing use of some of the buildings for workshops and storage, and for a limited number of boats and caravans to be kept on the site.

Conditions of the war game approval will restrict the type of guns to be used, limit activities from 10am to 5pm on Sundays only, and to groups of no more than 24 people.

Chickerell town council had objected to the change of use claiming it would have a negative impact on wildlife and may cause noise and disturbance to neighbouring properties.

April Lee, vice president of the Wyke Regis Community Association, said she did not agree with war games on Sundays: “Sunday to me is a religious day, for going to church and walking with the children or relaxing in the garden. With 24 guns going off there won’t be doing much relaxing for people in Mandeville Road.”

She said that the site already looked like “a blot on the landscape”.

Chickerell and Chesil Bank councillor Jean Dunseith said she shared the concern about war gaming on Sundays: “I just don’t feel it’s appropriate for a Sunday…I wouldn’t want 24 people running about and shouting and guns going off on Sunday morning, or afternoon. It’s not an appropriate time of the week.”

Cllr Simon Christopher said he often walked in the area and frequently heard shotguns being fired on Sundays. He said he doubted if the airsoft-type guns could even be heard off the site, although he did ask for the use to be limited to 4pm.

One councillor welcomed the idea: Dominic Elliott said he would rather see people running around outside and working together in groups than sat alone indoors ‘twiddling’ with virtual war games on computers.

The committee heard that the site had previously been identified for use by travellers but that idea has since been abandoned. Part of the area has been identified for housing in the future.