Dundrennan Range

[2][3] In 2001 local people raised concern over the use of depleted uranium shells on the site given health fears which had come to light after service personnel from the Gulf War had fallen sick from such ammunition, however a spokesperson from the British Army claimed the tests were entirely safe.

[4][5] Later that year the Scottish National Party lodged a debate in the House of Commons to call for the immediate suspension of tests on the site, however this was dismissed by the then Secretary of State for Defence Geoff Hoon.

[6] In 2003 the renewal of the project was opposed by the then First Minister of Scotland Jack McConnell until a local consultation on the use of the weapon could be carried out, however the site continued to operate.

[7] In 2006 concerns were again raised by local MSPs Alasdair Morgan and Chris Ballance regarding the use of depleted uranium shells at the site after calls by a number of international bodies to stop the usage of such armaments given their impact on human health.

[1] Given the lack of public access the Ministry of Defence report a number of rare plants in the botany of the range including glaucium flavum, yellow vetch and anacamptis pyramidalis.