IMPROVEMENTS to Christchurch gun club will not lead to more shooting or increased membership, officials have reassured residents.

Plans for improved facilities at the club on St Catherine's Hill, will go before Christchurch Borough Council's planning committee tonight.

The plans could see the replacement of the existing firing range, which will be an enclosed structure with sound proofing.

Due to more than 12 letters of objection, the application has been referred to the committee for decision.

The gun club's site off Sandy Lane is an old gravel pit, which is bordered by dense tree cover, with the nearest residential properties around 180 metres away, a planning report says.

The new structure will be placed on the same site as the existing, and will be 'marginally' bigger in size, according to the report to members.

No more than 12 people can shoot at any one time, with this capacity not set to increase.

However, residents have raised concerns over increased membership, saying there is a "constant noise of gunfire, which appears to be a daily event during summer months."

They are also concerned about an increase in traffic on the rural lane and more activity on the site leading to 'additional noise pollution'.

Fourteen letters of objection have been received.

But chairman of Christchurch Gun Club, Alan Cummings, said: "These plans, if approved, will benefit the sporting and recreational use of the area.

"We are improving and upgrading existing facilities and bringing them up to date.

"There will be no major changes as far as we are concerned and there will be no increase in facilities and no more shooting.

"There has been vandalism at St Catherine's Hill and the present structure is open. The new facility will be totally enclosed which will make it far more secure."

Mr Cummings added: "Because of the problems with vandalism and anti-social behaviour, we are also considering using CCTV cameras up here.

"Ultimately we want to work with the residents."

The planning report details proposals for acoustic foam to be used to sound proof the building, potentially reducing the levels of noise.

And officers have recommended the plans for approval.

The club, which was established in 1902, moved to the site in 1968.

They have more than 500 members and cater for shooting disciplines such as fullbore, military and sporting rifles as well as clay pigeon shooting.

They also have an airgun gallery, woodland range and military ranges.