A controversial clay pigeon range has been recommended for approval by Highland Council officials despite objections from 26 households.
The range is on agricultural land at Achaderry just outside Roy Bridge, and is currently operating in line with a previous application.
The new site would be some 300 yards to the north east, and a new timber shed is proposed, along with 100 yds of new track.
The nearest houses are owned by applicant Tim Sims of Achaderry Farm, with the next nearest houses around a third of a mile away.
Residents say the distance is half the minimum recommended distance of almost a mile in front of the range and 100 yards to the rear.
They say much of the village is within this range, and the noise upsets the elderly, young and pets and stops people from enjoying their gardens and tranquillity of the area.
The residents have also challenged the methodology used in the noise assessment, which describes the noise level as a babbling brook.
The range also offers rifle shooting, not addressed in the application, and residents say the proposed new shed is insufficient, requiring higher wing walls and more insulation on the corrugated metal roof.
But the council’s environmental health officers say the shooting enclosure will act as a noise barrier once in position bringing the decibel levels down by around 12.2 decibels.
They are recommending that all shooting take place from within the shed, and that new cladding should be added to the back, roof and sides of the inner frame of enclosure, with sound absorbing insulation placed between the old and the new cladding.
The officials have imposed a number of time restrictions, with a maximum cumulative shooting time of four hours Monday to Friday, and three hours at the weekends.
South planning committee councillors will determine the application today.
