Part of the residents of Sopot and Gdynia believe that the shooting range creates too much noise and problems, and it should either be closed or moved to another location. These demands were supported by Sopot councilor Adam Gil. According to him, people often complain about the facility.
At the same time, clients and shooters emphasize that this is not a «whim,» but the owners of the facility are striving for development conditions for a public purpose, which will help reduce the noise level from shooting.
The opposing side — the users of the shooting range and its owners — are convinced that the facility is necessary. They emphasize that they are working to improve conditions for public development, which will help reduce the noise level from shooting.
— The biggest problem in this situation is the location of the shooting range. It’s not just the noise, but also the negative impact on the environment. The problem is complex, and in our opinion, this is not a suitable place for a shooting range, — says Adam Gil in an interview with «Dziennik Bałtycki.»
Four demands of the protesters
The petition has already gathered nearly a thousand signatures and continues to receive support. It is clear that there is a significant group of residents of Sopot and Gdynia who are disturbed by the activities of the shooting range. The reasons for this are also listed in the petition itself.
— We are not against the facility itself and do not want it to be closed, — explains the Sopot councilor. — We just want the shooting range to be moved to a more suitable location. There is a war going on beyond our borders, and such places are necessary, but they should not disturb the residents. The petition was created precisely to resolve the conflict and find a way out of the difficult situation regarding the location of the shooting range. We, as councilors, will also address the mayor of Sopot, Magdalena Czajkowska-Jachim, asking her to discuss the issue with the mayor of Gdynia, Aleksandra Kosiórek.
The residents who signed the petition have put forward four demands to Aleksandra Kosiórek. These include:
- to limit or temporarily suspend the operation of the facility,
- to take a clear position on the matter,
- to initiate negotiations about relocation,
- and to protect the area from further expansion of the shooting range in the new urban plan.
The shooting range awaits a court decision
The owner of the facility, Garda Ochrona, believes that the conflict is not new, and similar disputes arise almost everywhere there are shooting ranges. According to them, the noise level is regularly measured and complies with regulations. Inspections are conducted at a distance of 150 meters, while the nearest houses are located about 800 meters away.
The owners acknowledge that some residents are still dissatisfied because they would prefer complete silence. However, in their opinion, this is impossible; muffled sounds will still occur, but they do not exceed permissible limits.
In addition to noise control, Garda is also taking further steps that, according to Sosnowski, should be beneficial for both opponents and supporters of the shooting range. However, the construction of a closed complex is currently not possible.
— This does not mean that we do not want to become an even quieter facility, — adds Piotr Sosnowski. — For about two years, we have been trying to obtain development conditions for a public place that would allow us to cover and partially close the shooting range, significantly reducing noise. This would also be beneficial for clients who could comfortably use the facility even in winter. However, the city has denied us these conditions, so we have filed an appeal in court and are awaiting a decision.
Supporters have written their own petition
A petition from supporters of the shooting range was created to support its operation and respond to the complaints. In addition to noise, the issue of ecology was also discussed. The head of Garda Ochrona explains that when shooting, two elements remain — bullets and casings. Casings are collected and reused, which reduces the cost of ammunition. Bullets remain in special mounds, and they are regularly disposed of, even more frequently than required by regulations, approximately once every three years instead of seven. According to the owners, this is done for both economic and environmental reasons: the metal can be recycled.
The owners emphasize that the shooting range is not only a place for sports. It can also be used for defense purposes, as well as for educating schoolchildren and conducting competitions.
Will the operation of the shooting range be limited, will it be moved, or will it remain unchanged? This will become clear after the petition is reviewed by the authorities of Gdynia.
