Seeking advice on AWL application and garden approval in Scotland

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ZHEC

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Evening all, I’ve only recently moved to the Glasgow area and was wondering if anyone with relevant experience of the AWL process in Scotland could offer me some advice.

I sent my application form to the Glasgow department by both post and email along with the online payment receipt, on 17 December, and nothing seems to have happened since. Should I expect any form of confirmation, or is it normal to just wait until a home visit is arranged?

I’m also wondering how prepared I need to be for the visit. I’ve already purchased a lockable metal cabinet (not firearm-rated) and cleared a lockable storage room specifically for the cabinet. Would this likely satisfy the FEO?

Regarding the garden approval: the rear garden isn’t particularly large (roughly 10 × 20 yards). Behind it is a large area of woodland with public access, although there’s no footpath close to my side. I’m planning to use a 0.6 × 0.6 m concrete slab as a pellet stop, plus 18 mm thick plywood to build a 2 × 2 m shield to catch any strays. Would this be considered sufficient, or would I be expected to shield the entire rear garden? Also, do these measures need to be fully built before the visit, or would a practical proposal/plan be acceptable for the interview? These could be quite expensive to build, and I simply don’t want to waste more money if the garden is likely to be rejected in the first place...

Thank you for your time and advice! Hopefully something positive will happen soon.
 
Join a club near you its the best way to get air gun licence, would ditch the plan for garden shooting unless no houses near you as can get unwanted complaints and then visit from police
 
WullieH said:
Join a club near you its the best way to get air gun licence, would ditch the plan for garden shooting unless no houses near you as can get unwanted complaints and then visit from police
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I do have permission, but it’s in England. I might only use it once or twice a year, but at least it could serve as a valid reason I guess? I don’t plan to do any extensive garden plinking regardless, only some 6-yard pistol session in the garage or living room probably.
 
My application took around 12 weeks to get passed. Just seems really slow process.
I never got visit. Just a lengthy phone interview where the officer was on Google maps backing up what I was explaining about where I'd be shooting. I have no neighbours tho.
 
ZootHornRollo said:
My application took around 12 weeks to get passed. Just seems really slow process.
I never got visit. Just a lengthy phone interview where the officer was on Google maps backing up what I was explaining about where I'd be shooting. I have no neighbours tho.
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I guess “no neighbours” will be at the top of my checklist when looking for my next place😮‍💨
 
When I initially applied for my AWL, it took about 6/7 weeks. I recently renewed it and had a Shotgun grant as well as an AWL renewal, again it took about the same time.
 
ZHEC said:
I guess “no neighbours” will be at the top of my checklist when looking for my next place😮‍💨
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I feel your pain, I submitted my application a few weeks back by email, also in Glasgow. I did get a generic reply to confirm they had it.

I have prepared for a wait up to 16 weeks, based on another thread I saw on this forum, hopefully not that long though.

I have a gun cabinet and have assumed they will want to see it bolted to the wall when they visit.
I was going to ask about garden plinking, but I might not waste my time given I am in a housing estate.
 
ZHEC said:
Evening all, I’ve only recently moved to the Glasgow area and was wondering if anyone with relevant experience of the AWL process in Scotland could offer me some advice.

I sent my application form to the Glasgow department by both post and email along with the online payment receipt, on 17 December, and nothing seems to have happened since. Should I expect any form of confirmation, or is it normal to just wait until a home visit is arranged?

I’m also wondering how prepared I need to be for the visit. I’ve already purchased a lockable metal cabinet (not firearm-rated) and cleared a lockable storage room specifically for the cabinet. Would this likely satisfy the FEO?
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You don’t need a cabinet but a lot of them demand one , They seem to be applying FAC and SGC safe storage rules onto the airguns also. I have two replies from my licensing area saying a Cabinet is not the only safe storage for airguns .
BASC Scotland is also aware of it and if you have issues and are a member with them contact them.

I was allowed to use a wall anchor as I had no space in my cabinet for the Airgun

Your cabinet seems to be ideal though you storage room will suffice if it has a lock on the door and only you can access it. You only need to stop a non AWC holder getting access .
ZHEC said:
Regarding the garden approval: the rear garden isn’t particularly large (roughly 10 × 20 yards). Behind it is a large area of woodland with public access, although there’s no footpath close to my side. I’m planning to use a 0.6 × 0.6 m concrete slab as a pellet stop, plus 18 mm thick plywood to build a 2 × 2 m shield to catch any strays. Would this be considered sufficient, or would I be expected to shield the entire rear garden? Also, do these measures need to be fully built before the visit, or would a practical proposal/plan be acceptable for the interview? These could be quite expensive to build, and I simply don’t want to waste more money if the garden is likely to be rejected in the first place...
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Your garden may be suitable but only the FEO that comes out will decide , You can appeal his decision , Again BASC would be the people to contact if you do not agree with the decision .

I would wait to see what the say when they come to visit , They don’t visit all applicants but if you stay in certain areas then they may look up where you stay on Google Maps and then visit if they have a concern

As long as you have a good back stop then it should be fine.

My garden is not suitable and I knew this and the FEO asked why I had not put it down on my AWC and I showed him and he agreed , I have houses on all sides of me and i deemed it unsafe myself hence not putting it in the forms .

Do you own the property ? That is another thing you may need to sort out . If you rent it then you may need the property owners permission to shoot in the garden . I have heard of people being refused shooting in the garden of rented properties if you don’t have the owners permission .
ZHEC said:
Thank you for your time and advice! Hopefully something positive will happen soon.
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They are normally quick with the applications and grants unless there is something that adds more time to it like chasing up a referee , I know of one applicant who put down a friend who would not answer unknown callers and the FEO was calling on a withheld number . The FEO tried multiple times before contacting the applicant .

16 weeks is the average timescale from applying to getting your certs .

Best of luck with your application.
 
Alvie said:
I feel your pain, I submitted my application a few weeks back by email, also in Glasgow. I did get a generic reply to confirm they had it.

I have prepared for a wait up to 16 weeks, based on another thread I saw on this forum, hopefully not that long though.

I have a gun cabinet and have assumed they will want to see it bolted to the wall when they visit.
I was going to ask about garden plinking, but I might not waste my time given I am in a housing estate.
Click to expand...
Good luck with your application. I might drop them an email next week to check whether my application is at least in their system...
 
Bighit said:
You don’t need a cabinet but a lot of them demand one , They seem to be applying FAC and SGC safe storage rules onto the airguns also. I have two replies from my licensing area saying a Cabinet is not the only safe storage for airguns .
BASC Scotland is also aware of it and if you have issues and are a member with them contact them.

I was allowed to use a wall anchor as I had no space in my cabinet for the Airgun

Your cabinet seems to be ideal though you storage room will suffice if it has a lock on the door and only you can access it. You only need to stop a non AWC holder getting access .


Your garden may be suitable but only the FEO that comes out will decide , You can appeal his decision , Again BASC would be the people to contact if you do not agree with the decision .

I would wait to see what the say when they come to visit , They don’t visit all applicants but if you stay in certain areas then they may look up where you stay on Google Maps and then visit if they have a concern

As long as you have a good back stop then it should be fine.

My garden is not suitable and I knew this and the FEO asked why I had not put it down on my AWC and I showed him and he agreed , I have houses on all sides of me and i deemed it unsafe myself hence not putting it in the forms .

Do you own the property ? That is another thing you may need to sort out . If you rent it then you may need the property owners permission to shoot in the garden . I have heard of people being refused shooting in the garden of rented properties if you don’t have the owners permission .

They are normally quick with the applications and grants unless there is something that adds more time to it like chasing up a referee , I know of one applicant who put down a friend who would not answer unknown callers and the FEO was calling on a withheld number . The FEO tried multiple times before contacting the applicant .

16 weeks is the average timescale from applying to getting your certs .

Best of luck with your application.
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Thank you for the valuable input. I’ll stay calm and see how things go… I’ll probably write a thorough plan for the backstop arrangement and show good intention to implement it, maybe outlining what I would order for building the backstop before the visit. A solid stop won’t be cheap, and I don’t want to waste the money before seeing any real prospect of approval.

In terms of the property, I am indeed renting, but the landlord/agency seems fine with this as long as the relevant certificate has been granted. At least, they approved possession under licence when I discussed it with them before signing the tenancy.

Thanks again!
 
ZHEC said:
Good luck with your application. I might drop them an email next week to check whether my application is at least in their system...
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The email I got was from a noreply address and came through about a minute after I emailed my completed application.
Good luck with your application too, you should be before me in the queue. 😃

 
Alvie said:
The email I got was from a noreply address and came through about a minute after I emailed my completed application.
Good luck with your application too, you should be before me in the queue. 😃
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Got my visit today and it went great. The constable was happy with the storage and garden setup, so the certificate should be arriving soon! Hopefully, you aren't waiting much longer. Good luck!
 
ZHEC said:
Got my visit today and it went great. The constable was happy with the storage and garden setup, so the certificate should be arriving soon! Hopefully, you aren't waiting much longer. Good luck!
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Good to hear. How long did you have to wait since submitting your application?
I have been 10 weeks so far.
 
Alvie said:
Good to hear. How long did you have to wait since submitting your application?
I have been 10 weeks so far.
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I submitted it 13 weeks ago. Five weeks in, a local constable contacted me to ask if I’d paid and completed the form. It seems the department I sent the application to didn't pass the info to him. Even though I’d already sent two physical copies and one digital copy, I had to provide yet another photo during his visit...
 
That’s good news, hope you get some shooting done in this good weather soon.

Chiefy
 
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