The Ministry of Defence (MOD) uses Lulworth Ranges between Wareham and Lulworth as live firing areas and is one of the busiest in the country. The ranges comprise more than 2,830 hectares and are within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and feature a large Site of Special Scientific Interest. And the South West Coastal Path runs through the ranges which, due to its stunning location on the Jurassic coast, attracts many visitors and residents.
Risks to public safety can include live firing, unexploded ordnance (UXO), pyrotechnics and fast-moving military vehicles. MOD land is primarily used for military training, and although visitors are welcome, the key take-away from the ‘Respect the Ranges’ campaign is that you should only access MOD land when and where it is safe to do so. Col Andy Hough, the regional commander for the south west, said: “With the summer holidays upon us, it’s a key time to remind the public of the potential risks when accessing Lulworth Ranges, as well as the actions they can take to keep themselves safe.
“Lulworth is one of the most picturesque parts of the Dorset coast. Members of the public are asked to observe and comply with the safety signs and remain in the designated areas and on marked, cleared paths. “When military training is taking place, there could be a risk to the public from live fire.
Red boundary flags are flown at Lulworth at all times, and we ask that people don’t access the Range unless the permissive paths are open..