Soldiers have been stopped from carrying out machine gun training in a busy Inverness park following complaints from the public.
Frightened residents raised concerns with Highland Council about the Territorial Army (TA) performing drills in Bught Park.
It is understood reservists from the 51st Highland, 7th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (7 SCOTS) have been using the beauty spot – which is popular families, dog walkers and sports teams – as a training ground for setting up and dismantling weapons.
The practice has now been halted until a meeting between the TA, the Highland Council and police to agree a protocol for use of public areas.
The move emerged just days after a row over the increasing use of armed police on the streets of Inverness.
Members of 7 SCOTS, based in Inverness’s Gordonville Road, train every Tuesday evening.
Councillor Donnie Kerr said he had received a number of complaints from members of the public over the past few months about their weapons sessions at Bught Park.
The playing fields are a popular recreation site for football and shinty. The area is also well used by dog walkers and families with young children.
Mr Kerr said the sight of soldiers on the greenfield could be “upsetting” for some people.
He said: “I am concerned at whether they have and need permission from the Highland Council. It is a public recreational area and should not be used for that.
“There are the Cameron Barracks and Fort George nearby. If they wanted to use council land, Torvean Quarry would be out of the way.
“We know that TA reservists are in demand and no one is grudging them the need for training. But should this be in a public area?
“There are no signs to tell people that it will be taking place and it could be quite upsetting for some.”
Dave Thomson, MSP, said: “It does seem rather odd if they are using a public park to do weapons drills.
“I would have thought there would be more appropriate places for them to do this.”
Councillor Carolyn Caddick, the council’s Armed Forces Champion, said the TA was generally allowed to train in public places and moved to reassure people that the reservists had not been using live ammunition.
Mrs Caddick said: “I think there has been a lack of communication.
“Reservists are becoming more and more important to the defence of the country and there is pressure on members to do training and get through their tests.”
It is understood that Highland Council is now examining whether the TA require formal permission to carry out weapons training at the Bught.
The local authority’s Inverness City manager David Haas said: “We are aware of the fact that the Territorial Army are using public areas and are in discussions with partners to ensure that this this activity can be undertaken reasonably and practicably and fair to the residents.”
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said: “This has been raised with the MoD and we are looking into it.”