Residents in High Bonnybridge were confused when they saw construction work being carried out in local woodlands because they believed the proposed sporting facility had not yet been given the go ahead from Falkirk Council.

Rebellion Paintballing Ltd., based in Thornbridge Road in Falkirk, has applied to the local authority for detailed planning permission to construct a portable building, office and toilets, and parking spaces for the paintballing development on land south east of Cradalie near the Lochgreen Road and Beam Road junction.

The same company has also applied for a public entertainment licence.
However, both matters are still being considered by officials.

Bryan Laird from Rebellion Paintballing Ltd. said that only minimum construction work had been done on the site with public safety and forward planning in mind.

A spokesperson for Falkirk Council said: "It is going to be some weeks before either of these matters are determined. We had been contacted by a resident who said that work had started on the site. The applicant has been told to stop and now realises that they cannot do any more work until a decision has been made."

And in a separate issue in the same woodland, neighbours have also expressed concern after a different company, Players of War Airsoft, held a war games event further in the woods on Sunday.

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said he feared both activities were unsuitable for the area and surrounding paths because they were regularly used by walkers and horse riders.

The Scottish Rights of Way and Access Society has also objected to Rebellion's proposal.

However, the woodland's landowners, Callendar Estates, say both operations have full permission to use their land for these activities.

Guy Wedderburn, an agent for Callendar Estates said that the landowners had spent around six months fine-tuning both operations, mostly to ensure the public's safety.

He said that Rebellion's proposal required permission from the council as it was a commercial development which intended to operate as often as possible.

However, Beth Zwicker from POW Airsoft, says the membership-based company believes it doesn't need permission from the council as it is only going to operate on the site 26 times a year.

She said: "We are negotiating with the council at the moment to see if we do need planning permission, but we had been advised that we didn't need it. Officials are coming to look at what we are doing and if we do need permission then we have been told we can apply retrospectively."