Dartmoor Training Area

Military Use Overview

History of Military Use

Military Training

Land Used

Management

Integrated Land Management Plan (ILMP)

Environmental
Management
System (EMS)

Integrated Land Management Plan (ILMP)

Detailed Tasks and Coordinating Instructions

Detailed Tasks
Coordinating Instructions

Detailed Tasks

The existing management processes, which have been developed through experience, are detailed as an output task (bold) followed by the inputs that contribute to the achievement (bullets).

Programming

Programme the training allocated by HQ DTE SW so as to make the most efficient use of the training facilities.

• Advise HQ DTE SW on the detailed availability of training facilities.
• Balance allocated users’ objectives with those of local communities, tenants, graziers, conservation and public access. In particular, consider the need for noisy activities between 2200 and 0600; avoiding honeypot areas when frequented by visitors; blanket bogs; flora, fauna and livestock; main stables and horse riding areas.
• Issue DTA programmes weekly.
• Advise allocated users on the availability and use of training areas, ranges and training facilities.

Assistance to Users

Assist the allocated user’s Ex Dir/ECO to obtain the best value from training within the Dartmoor National Park by providing advice on the facilities available and their effective use within the terms of the MOD’s licence, planning consultation, agreements with MOD’s tenants, commoners’ rights, public access, nature conservation and the protection of cultural heritage.

• Have a complete understanding of the facilities available and limitations on their use.
• Maintain an up to date knowledge of tactics, in-service weapons, and targetry to be fully conversant with training area and range regulations, relevant LANDSO, DTE SW SOs, and Live Fire regulations and SOs.
• Assist users with TOPL clearance.
• Revise annually and issue Standing Orders for live fire training.
• Review annually DTE SW Standing Orders and make suggestions for amendments to HQ DTE SW.
• Provide a general and safety brief for allocated users.
• Brief allocated user’s recce parties and give assistance with planning.
• Assist users with planning by showing recce parties around, offering examples of previous successful exercises.
• Contribute to HQ DTE’s triennial revision of training area maps.
• Provide allocated user recce parties with maps.

Provision of Facilities

Make available safe, serviceable and effective training areas, ranges and training facilities in accordance with DTA programme to support the achievement of allocated user’s training objectives.

• Hold, account for and make available to allocated users the necessary equipment.
• Maintain equipment and facilities in accordance with the Service Provider’s schedules for telephones, radios, Electronic Target Range, Moving Mechanised Target Trainer, Gallery Range, Electric Targets, vehicles and tools.
• Manufacture, repair and service targets.
• Inspect all buildings and structures at least monthly and remedy faults or report them to the Service Provider’s help desk
• Inform Ex Dir/ECO of Comdt DTAs safety, health and environment (SHE) policy and ensure that they are aware of hazards and risks arising from use of DTA.
• Review risk assessments annually.
• Instruct allocated users on the safe operation of targetry, ranges and equipment.
• Develop DTA to meet allocated users’ requirements.
• Maintain slide library illustrating military use and conservation achievements.

Advice to and Supervision of Users

Ensure that the training area is left safe for the public, other users and following allocated users, and that allocated users support tenants’ agreements, commoners’ rights, public access, nature conservation and cultural heritage objectives.

• Brief Ex Dir/ECO on Standing Orders.
• Verify from a live fire and/or dry training trace provided by the allocated user that the intended training complies with regulations and standing orders and give approval for use of the training area.
• If necessary instruct allocated user personnel on the safe operation of facilities, particularly ETR and SAPU.
• If an infringement of safety is likely to occur, all DTA staff are authorised to order a stop to training.
• Ensure that the range log is completed before and after live firing, if an incident occurs, for any damage and for all inspections.
• Ensure that the training area certificate is completed on the conclusion of training.
• Check that allocated users leave the training area, ranges and training facilities in a clean, tidy and serviceable condition free of litter and debris.
• Should any litter or debris be left behind in error, either arrange for it to be cleared up or remove it.
• Maintain a reference library of relevant pamphlets.

Live Fire Range Safety

Establish and maintain range danger area safety during live firing in order to keep the public and stock safe.

• Ensure that byelaws are published and displayed in main car parks around the range danger areas.
• Ensure that the air danger area is published and NOTAMs issued when necessary.
• Ensure that range warnings, caution and information notices are in place.
• Publish firing programme as described under public access.
• Post sentries and lookouts where and when required by DTA SOs for Live Firing.
• Inform the Supervisor of the exercise danger area to be cleared. In turn the Supervisor is to inform the Head Clearer.
• Clear persons from range danger area and stock from the exercise danger area before day firing, as necessary during the day and half an hour before last light if night firing is programmed.
• Hoist warning signals and close barriers as required by DTA SOs for Live Firing.
• Establish from Clearers that warning signals are hoisted, persons are clear of the range danger area and stock cleared from the exercise danger area, and by day that the main crossings into the range danger area are under observation.
• Once satisfied that the range danger areas is clear of people and that the exercise danger area is clear of stock, the warning signals are hoisted and the range danger area boundary is under observation by day, inform the ECO that the range is open for live fire.
• If the exercise danger area is fouled or likely to be fouled, order the ECO to stop firing until the safety precautions are again established.
• Be prepared to stop firing for Royal and Blue Sky flights.
• Ensure that the Range Log is signed before and after live firing.

Security

Assist allocated users to maintain their security and provide security for DTA personnel and equipment.

• Inform Ex Dir/ECO of the current security state at the start of the exercise and any changes that might occur during an exercise.
• Obey local Security Standing Orders. In particular, check buildings before occupying them for the first time each day.
• Keep building exteriors clear of stores, rubbish, skips and vehicles.

Safety, Health and Environment

Provide safe working facilities and maintain safe working practices for DTA staff and contractors. Insist on the Safe System of Training being maintained by allocated users. Ensure that damage is not caused to the environment.

• Publish annually SHE policy statement.
• Support visits by military and local authority inspectors and advisors, and carry out follow up action as required.
• Assist National Park Authority and commoners with swaling, particularly where the burns contribute to fire breaks and conservation objectives.
• Use safe working practices and ensure that subordinates and colleagues do likewise.

Landlords

Cultivate and maintain good relations with landlords and their representatives.

• Meet at least weekly with Duchy Deputy Bailiff.
• Provide the Duchy Deputy Bailiff with every assistance in his task of supervising military use of the Duchy Estate.
• Meet on a periodic basis, as required, with Duchy Bailiff, Land Steward and representatives of the Prince’s Council.
• Meet at least 6 monthly with representatives of the other landowners.
• Match training utilisation to Landlord’s agreements.
• Advise users on appropriate behaviour to meet Landlord’s agreements.
• Inform landlords of significant problems or incidents that arise

Tenants, Graziers and Commoners

Assist Secretary of State for Defence to be recognised as an excellent landlord and steward of the defence estate.

• Negotiate reasonable agreement s with tenants and graziers.
• Ensure that tenants and graziers conform to their agreements, informing SLA DTE SW of any breeches.
• Encourage tenants and graziers to enter into and abide by agri-environmental schemes.
• Assist commoners and tenants with shepherding, informing them of any dead, injured or sick stock.
• Programme training and advise allocated users to conduct activities to take account of agreements with tenants, graziers and commoners.
• Provide information on unavoidable disruption and exercises involving more than 3 helicopters.
• Consider and settle training and manoeuvre claims in a fair and reasonable manner.

Local Communities

Cultivate and maintain good relations with local communities, neighbours and other users of Dartmoor in order to integrate military training into the fabric of society.

• Maintain good relations by meeting at least biennially with local representatives of Statutory Bodies.
• Maintain good relations by meeting at least annually with local representatives of non governmental organisations.
• Attend Commoners Council meetings as appropriate.
• Maintain good relations by meeting periodically, as required, with parish councils.
• Maintain good relations by meeting periodically, as required, with commoners associations.
• Participate in the Dartmoor Steering Group and its Dartmoor Working Party.
• Maintain good relations with the police, help with crime prevention and assist by locating and identifying any UXO reported within National Park.
• Maintain a close, mutually supportive working relationship with the Emergency Services; Civil Police, Dartmoor Rescue Group, Ambulance Service and Devon Air Ambulance and be prepared to assist in emergencies.
• Work closely with DNPA’s Committee member, officers and Ranger, providing mutual support for each other for the benefit of Dartmoor.
• Provide information on unavoidable inconvenience caused by military activities. In particular, programmed live firing and exercises involving more than 3 helicopters.
• Ensure that staff and allocated users are aware of their social responsibilities as part of the local community.

Public Access

Support MOD’s policy and the National Parks’ purpose of public access and assist the public to enjoy Dartmoor.

• Maximise access and recreational quality, quantity and certainty.
• Ensure that the public are aware of public access opportunities.
• Publish and make available to the public the ‘Walks and Rides on Dartmoor’ leaflet and website www.dartmoor-ranges.co.uk revising text at least triennially.
• Maintain information boards in the main car parks. Consider revisions at least triennially.
• Maintain information displays and video at High Moorland Visitors Centre and smaller display at Postbridge. Update triennially.
• Develop display at Okehampton Camp, including history of military on Dartmoor, for loan to museums and libraries.
• Publish Guaranteed Access Periods at least annually on the web, in the Dartmoor Visitor and in the ‘Walks and Rides on Dartmoor’ leaflet.
• Publish 6 weeks notice of firing programme on the website, at places where people meet, for active graziers and in the Express and Echo, Western Morning News and Okehampton/Tavistock Times/Gazette and for broadcast daily on Radio Devon. Update firing programme by indicating cancellations in bold in each week’s firing programme.
• Inform the National Park Authority and Radio Devon of last minute changes, so that they can publicise them.
• Seek reductions in the delta between programmed and actual use. In particular follow up all last minute cancellations with the allocated user’s commanding officer.
• Ensure that the training area, ranges and training facilities are as safe as possible, and warn users, authorised personnel and members of the public of the remaining military hazards (including unexploded ordnance) and caution about action that should be taken.
• Give talks to local groups.
• Programme training to avoid agreed honey pot sites when the public are likely to be making extensive use of them. E.g. Cullever Steps, Row Tor, car parking areas, East Okement River valley near Antony Stile..

Landscape, Cultural Heritage and Nature Conservation

Maintain, protect and, where possible, enhance, the conservation value of Willsworthy’s landscape, cultural heritage and natural enviroment, and assist MOD’s licensors to achieve similar objectives on licensed land.

• Advise allocated users of the risk of fire and the preventative actions to be taken.
• Maintain an effective first aid fire fighting capability.
• Advise allocated users on the measures to be taken to protect the cultural heritage, flora and fauna.
• Retain support and assistance of DTA Conservation Group, under the chairmanship of Comdt DTA.
• Assist with conservation works and participate in joint action initiatives with stakeholder bodies. Currently the Dartmoor Vision, the Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme, the Dartmoor Biodiviersity Action plan, the Wader Porject, and the Peat Wetting Trial.
• Maintain historical records.
• Ensure that the training area is clear of military debris and litter, removing civilian litter from areas where the military have trained.
• Remove redundant military structures, that are of no historical significance, in a sensitive and timely manner and in accordance with historic buildings best practice guidance.

Implementation

• Review DTA ILMP action plan annually and update the plan every 5 years.
• Implement DTA ILMP within funding made available.
  

Additional Duties

• Be prepared to carry out notification of casualties.

Coordinating Instructions

Action on Incident or Accident

• Be prepared to act as coordinator. Ensure that incidents and accidents are reported in accordance with Pamphlet 21, LAND Standing Orders, DTE SW Standing Orders and DTA live firing Standing Orders.

Action on Infringement of Range Danger Area

• Inform Range Control immediately. If a person is in the exercise danger area, order “Stop, Stop, Stop Check fire” and then explain what is happening. I fthe person is in the Range Danger Area, intercept, identify and inform them of the byelaws. On the instructions of the Foreman Clearer, push stock back. Inform HQ DTA of all persons or aircraft infringing the Range Danger Area. Take appropriate action to prevent a recurrence of persons infringing the Range Danger Area.

Action on Complaints or Claims against Ministry of Defence

• Commence investigation with 24 hours of complaint or claim being received.
• Assist with resolution of compensation claims.
• Maintain at HQ DTA a register of complaints and claims.

Action on Damage or Litter

• Report damage to HQ DTA. Clear up litter, both civilian and military, or request return of allocated user through HQ DTA.

Action on Finding or Report of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

• If informed of UXO, consider risk to determine how soon search is required.
• On locating UXO, leave alone unless certain that it can be safely removed. If it can’t, note and mark the location, and inform HQ DTA, which will call out EOD team. On EOD team’s arrival, give assistance, including securing area for demolitions.

Action on Report of Vehicle Stuck

• Assist with recovery, ensuring minimal damage to Moor. If close tow is likely to cause damage to Moor, request heavy recovery through HQ DTA.

Action on Media Interest

• Inform Comdt DTA, Comd DTE SW and Media Operations HQ 43 Wessex Brigade. Do not talk to the media without Comd DTE SW’s authority.

Reports and Returns

Provide monthly usage returns in accordance with DTE SW Internal Standing Orders.

• Report dead and injured animals found on the training area for incorporation in a record maintained by HQ DTA.
• Clearers provide information on stock cleared before live firing for a record prepared by the Head Clearer and maintained by HQ DTA.
• Report complaints and incidents for inclusion in the record maintained at HQ DTA.
• Report all accidents and near misses, including users’, to HQ DTA which will inform the Unit Safety Adviser.