Life in Dornoch like ‘war zone’

resident up in arms over noise from jets using bombing range

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A Sutherland resident yesterday claimed that living at Dornoch was like living in a “war zone” because of jets using the bombing range at Tain across the Dornoch Firth.

Gordon Bruce, of Herkhenys House, said: “With all those noisy planes on their bombing runs, it’s like living in a war zone. Children shouldn’t be subjected to hearing this every day.”

Mr Bruce. who retired from the Glasgow City Police to Dornoch 13 years ago for the peace and quiet, added: “This wouldn’t be tolerated in other country and is against our human rights. I’ll speak out for the people who are too shy to.”

Highland councillor Allan Torrance, of Tain, has a list of about 150 people who have joined the Jets Action Group, campaigning against the use of the Tain range.

Mr Torrance said conversations or phone calls were impossible while planes were overhead.

He said: “Monitors have recorded 115 decibels. We all realise they have to train, but they need to realise we have a right to peace and quiet.

“Farmers are among those complaining, with stock becoming distressed.”

Duncan MacGillivray, of Culrossie Farm, Fearn, said: “It does get on your nerves if you can’t hear yourself talk when they fly that low the tops of the trees shake.

“Children have come into the house screaming because they were terrified, and we had an elderly American veteran visiting us and he hit the deck when he heard the noise – shaken by the memories it brought back.”

David Stewart, of Balnaha, Fearn, said: “We may be used to it, but we don’t like it.”

Commanding officer of the Tain range, Squadron Leader John McKeown, said it was mainly new residentswho noticed the noise as people who were born and brought up there were used to it.

He said: “Aircraft are noisy, but are tolerable and within the legal limits. We are sorry for the noise and do avoid clusters of population, but have to go somewhere. We have been using the Tain bombing range since before World War I. There is a website www.raftain.co.uk where complaints can be lodged.”