Contractors working for Trinity College Cambridge on the Trimley Estate have started construction of new facilities for the Felixstowe Rifle Club. These will include a new club house, two outdoor ranges and two indoor ranges, plus associated parking, to replace their existing facilities on land north of the High Street in Walton.
The new site located just off Nicholas Road in Trimley St Mary will provide facilities which will help to secure the future of the Rifle Club. The existing club site will be developed as part of the wider Walton North proposals granted planning permission last year.
The new club facilities will include:
• one 50m and one 100-yard outdoor range for small bore rifles
• indoor range for air rifles
• indoor range for full bore rifles
• a combined club house and armoury
• associated parking
The existing air gun range, part funded by Sport England Lottery Fund, will be dismantled, and relocated on the new site. New bunds will form the western northern and eastern boundaries of the two outdoor ranges, in addition to a bund which will separate the two to help mitigate noise.
The Felixstowe Rifle Club was formed around 1900 and originally used the army ranges at Landguard Common before being relocated to its current site after the Second World War, which was an old Home Guard range. The club currently has about 150 members.
Tim Collins (pictured), on behalf of the Trimley Estate, said:
‘I’ve been working with the Felixstowe Rifle Club on these proposals for the past 15 years and so we are very please to finally start on building these great new facilities. They are a major step forward for a club that was founded 120 years ago this year.’
John Humphries (pictured), President of the Felixstowe Rifle Club said:
‘This will be a fantastic facility for our members, many of whom have gone on to compete nationally, as well as creating much more accessible facilities for the various groups and organisations that use the rifle range. We look forward to welcoming our members to the new ranges when they open in Spring next year.’
