Böblingen (dpa / lsw) - After almost 30 years with many protests by residents against the noise, it has become quieter at the US Army firing ranges in the Böblingen tank barracks. The construction work on shooting lanes four and five began in April 2021 and was completed last May. Measurement reports showed a significant reduction in noise in the affected neighborhood, said a spokesman for the city of Böblingen. Noise protection gates were erected at the two shooting lanes. Additional inclined facings now deflect the sound upwards.
During the work, the shooting exercises were relocated to the already insulated shooting ranges one to three or held at completely different locations. The city of Böblingen contributed 300,000 euros to the most recent construction work. The city spokesman said the total cost -- of which the US Army is paying most -- has yet to be determined.
The "citizens' initiative against shooting noise", which represents 4,000 citizens, played a special role in the debate about noise protection at the tank barracks. For years, she campaigned vigorously for a solution. She had repeatedly complained about "war-like" shooting noise.
The US Army moved into the Panzerkaserne in 1945 after the French forces had left the Böblingen district.
