MOD safety warning for visitors to Barry Buddon

As the weather starts to warm up, the MOD has issued the warning in relation to the Barry Buddon Training Area near Carnoustie.

It is also part of the ministry’s Respect the Range campaign, designed to raise the public’s awareness and understanding of the risks to personal safety when using military land. These include live firing, unexploded ordnance, pyrotechnics and fast-moving military vehicles. 

The site has been in use by the military since the mid-19th century.

Safety remains the MOD’s top priority and one key risk that it is specifically keen to highlight at Barry Buddon is the sudden noises caused by using pyrotechnics, blank ammunition,and other battle simulators such as smoke grenades and thunder flashes.  

The public are also being asked to keep their dogs on leads and under control, and to remember to pick up after them.  

 Lt Col Alan Grant, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s Regional Commander for Scotland and Northern Ireland, said:  “It’s a key time to remind the public of the potential risks when accessing Barry Buddon Training Area, as well as actions they can take to keep themselves safe.  The training areas here are used for dry training exercises only.

"Dry training doesn’t involve the use of live ammunition, but pyrotechnics, blank ammunition and other battle simulators can create sudden noises which can scare people and animals. 

“We ask that people stick to the metalled roads at all times and always keep dogs on a lead and under control so that they don’t interrupt vital military training or put themselves or their animals at risk. 

“If we all work together to use these spaces with respect and consideration, the public will stay safe, and our Armed Forces will be protected during their important training exercises.” 

Anyone planning to be out and about over the coming weeks, should follow the MOD’s guidance to keep safe which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safe-access.