Man behind airsoft plan for quarry moves to assure residents

The owner of Lagan Valley Airsoft Ltd, Samuel Brayshay (39) from Maghaberry says the up and coming sport will in no way impact the lives of local residents and is encouraging those concerned to contact him directly.

Samuel, who has been a keen airsoft player for two years, formed Lagan Valley Airsoft along with his mother Maisie and cousin Jason Doyle.

He and his cousin had to travel each week to a site in Castlewellan to play Airsoft, which differs from paintball in that it uses spring powered bio degradable pellets at a very low velocity while paintball leaves a greasy residue.

With type 2 diabetes Samuel says that by playing the sport it has helped him keep fit and lose weight.

He stumbled across the abandoned quarry site while out driving his taxi and saw it as an opportunity to bring the sport to Lisburn.

He said his plans for the 21 acre quarry site, which had once planning permission for a five star hotel, will be to use it as an airsoft site for the next two years.

He has been in touch with the owner via a local estate agents and is in the process of signing a two year lease.

“What we are trying to do is to encourage more local people to play airsoft,” he said. “It is great for team building exercises as well as for birthdays, hen and stag parties. In fact we have learned that the quarry owner’s son-in-law is a great airsoft enthusiast too.

“It is not a hardcore sport. It is fun and can be enjoyed by everyone, I see it as a perfect sport for those who like playing computer games who instead of sitting at home can come out and play and be active.

“I have type 2 diabetes and since I have played it I have lost weight and become more active. We are trying to get this sport played in Lisburn for the first time.”

He said he wrote to some local residents explaining their intentions about a month ago and has also been in negotiations with a local motorcycling club who have been using the site for 40 years.

“We want to talk to everyone and keep everyone happy,” said Samuel. “We have spent £6,000 so far trying to get this up and running.”

He said they had spoken to the police in Lisburn as well as the Department of the Environment about the sport and they are satisfied so long as the weapons are used on private land and all participants are using proper safety gear and full face masks.

“We have had a huge response from the airsoft community from all over Ireland as well as a lot of Lisburn locals who are very eager to see this kind of activity come here and we feel it will get young people away from playing video games and out in the fresh air and exercising,” he said.

“We do not wish to upset or annoy any of the local residents and have had quite a few locals expressing an interest in taking part in our hobby/sport including people who had previously used this land for trials bike riding.”

Plans are already underway to put in portaloos a caravan/office and personal liability insurance will be in place from March 1.

“We have no intention of letting cars or vans park on the main Moneybroom Road and will have an off road car park on the land itself” he added. “We would also like to invite locals who have concerns and wish to talk to myself about our plans for the site to get in touch.”