MOD reminds public to stay safe on Salisbury Plain over summer holidays

With the holiday season well underway and summer hotspots getting busier, the MOD is urging the public to take extra care if visiting Salisbury Plain – an area used for important military training.

Following numerous disruptions to military exercises by members of the public straying onto training areas across the country, the MOD is reminding people to only access MOD land when and where it is safe to do so.

The MOD stresses that these incursions force critical military training exercises to be paused or even cancelled, impacting how personnel can be prepared for potential deployments.

While some areas of the MOD estate are accessible to the public at certain times, it is primarily an area for essential military training. It is vital that our Armed Forces can carry out training exercises uninterrupted, now more than ever after the government announced a move to ‘warfighting readiness’ in the recently published Strategic Defence Review.

Disruption to military training is a serious problem, but accessing the training area without following the safe access guidance can also be dangerous.

Salisbury Plain Training Area is the largest training area in the UK and covers 11% of Wiltshire as well as part of Hampshire. It contains miles of byways which are open to the public, but only when the red flags are not flying. Dangers on the Plain can include live firing, fast-moving vehicles and unexploded ordnance (UXO).

Lt Colonel Jamie Powell, the DIO's Regional Commander for the Salisbury Plain training area said, “With the summer holidays upon us, it is a key time to remind the public of the importance of military training and to the potential risks when accessing Salisbury Plain as well as the actions they can take to keep themselves safe.

“The military train 24/7 so they are ready to deploy on operations, and disrupting this critical training has a real impact on their preparations and their ability to do their jobs effectively.

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

This public safety message is part of Respect the Range, a campaign designed to raise the public’s awareness and understanding of the risks to personal safety when accessing military land. Risks to public safety can include live firing, unexploded ordnance, pyrotechnics and fast-moving military vehicles, aircraft and boats.

This year’s hot weather has also increased the risk of wildfires on the MOD estate. These can also interrupt military training and pose a risk to Armed Forces personnel and the public.

Safety remains the MOD’s top priority, and the MOD is keen to highlight the specific risks, including the impact of unexpected loud noises, which may scare animals, unexpected close contact with tactical military training, and the danger from UXO.

Members of the public can access military land, but only when and where permitted to do so, and are asked to follow these guidelines:

·             Observe all signs and information and always conform to instructions from MOD personnel.

·             Be aware that training can be happening at all times of the day and night; just because you can’t see it, it doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

·             Keep dogs under close control, always in sight and pick up after them.

·             Never touch any military debris and report it to the Ops room on 01748 875503 for safe removal.

·             Do not light fires or use BBQs, and dispose of cigarettes and litter responsibly.

·             If you encounter a wildfire, don’t attempt to put it out yourself – call 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service.

Local people and holidaymakers who are planning to be out and about over the coming weeks are urged to make sure they follow the MOD’s guidance to enable the military to carry out their critical training uninterrupted, and to keep themselves and their loved ones safe: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safe-access