Mark over at Firefight has dropped in an email to let everyone know that their Reading site is now moving an extended period of problems. Checkout their site for more information:
Most of our more frequent customers will no doubt be aware that since March this year we have been attempting to relocate our Reading operation to a new site nearby.
The proposed relocation is as of a direct result of our unsucessfull tender for the renewal of our Chazy wood lease agreement (which has subsequently been granted to a national paintball company).
Whilst it will be sad to see an end to airsoft at Chazy wood for Firefight I am sure most of you will agree that the site has become increasingly difficult to maintain (having to construct the safezone and clear up the rubbish before each games day!) and that the site has become “played-out” over the last 4 or 5 years.
Developments and features such as the village, old safezone, trenches and bunkers were frequently vandalised and we unfortunately do not have the man-power or resources to protect ourselves and the site from these mindless vandals.Since our recent announcements signalling our intention to relocate we have in fact seen the site further deteriorate and it has now become something of a “fly-tip”.
Whilst we have been scouting for a new site the Mapledurham Estate had kindly extended our lease on a week by week basis which allowed gaming to continue until the contract with the paintball company had been signed.
I can now inform you that the contract has been signed by the paintball company and subsequently the Chazy wood site is no longer at our disposal for the purpose of airsoft.
We have been working hard with Mapledurham and other contacts to secure a new site and even up until the last Saturday (7th May) had considered the move complete. Our work crews were on site (thanks to all the volunteers!) preparing the signage, constructing the car park and safezone but sadly we have decided not to progress the use of this site.
On the proposed site there were several issues that could cause problems in terms of Health and Safety and although we were confident that we could “work around” them there would always be a substancial risk to injury and as such would require heavy marshalling in those areas to protect against the risk.There also was, I am sad to say quite a bit of resistance from residents who use this area (without permission) to ride horses and walk their dogs etc (as well as, we suspect, slightly more dubious activities).
We feel that the amount of time likely to be spent escorting these people off the site and the volume of possible confrontations we (and our players and customers) could face were also a risk we did not wish to have to contend with on a constant basis).The site itself is a nice plot of land, quite suited to airsoft generally and we have informed Mapledurham that should these issues be addressed we may, once again be interested in pursuing the lease for this area, but certainly for the time being we deem it unusable.
We obviously appreciate the support and valued custom of our Reading airsofters and as such, rest assured we will be continueing to work hard to secure a safe, usable and suitable site within the Reading area, it is after all, our “spiritual home”.
We will, of course keep you updated via forums and our website (firefight.co.uk) as regards our progress.Both myself and Firefight would like to thank all it’s current and past staff for this site, the helpers and of course the players who have supported it over the years and we look forward to welcoming you once again when we are relocated.
All other Firefight sites are unaffected by this change.
Many Thanks,
Mark, (Firefight Ltd.)
