BBC Radio Humberside visit the Brimstone team at RAF Cowden

On 7th March 2023, BBC Radio Humberside visited Brimstone UXO at the former air weapons range, RAF Cowden, to learn more about our ongoing efforts to clear unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the East Yorkshire Coast.

As part of the visit, Paul Duckworth MBE, our Site Manager, was interviewed live on the Kofi Smiles morning show. Paul shared insights into the dangers posed by the UXO being uncovered along Mappleton Beach and highlighted the importance of safe and professional UXO disposal.

The history of RAF Cowden: from artillery range to UXO hotspot

RAF Cowden, located on the East Yorkshire Coast, has a long and complex military history. The site was used as a combined artillery and field firing range from the 1940s until 1955, when it was transferred to RAF custody. It remained an active air weapons range until it was decommissioned in 1998.

Covering approximately 275 hectares of coastal land, Cowden now faces ongoing UXO risks due to rapid coastal erosion. As the cliffs erode, ordnance that was once buried inland is being deposited onto the public beach at Mappleton, creating a hazard for residents and visitors.

In 2021, Brimstone UXO was awarded a competitive tender to manage the ongoing UXO risk at Cowden. Since then, our team has been working tirelessly to locate, identify, and safely dispose of ordnance along this stretch of coastline.

Showcasing Brimstone’s UXO risk mitigation efforts

The visit from BBC Radio Humberside provided an opportunity to showcase the vital work Brimstone UXO is doing at Mappleton Beach.

Reporter Amanda White was given a behind-the-scenes tour of our secure compound at the former range headquarters. She then joined the team on the beach, where it took just 30 minutes for our experienced UXO engineers to locate and recover 100 items of unexploded ordnance – a stark reminder of the scale of the problem.

Amanda also got involved in the disposal process, helping to prepare the latest UXO finds for demolition. Under the supervision of Brimstone’s explosives engineers, she was taken to the bunker and given the detonator, where she initiated the demolition herself. The experience was recorded and later broadcast on BBC Radio Humberside’s morning show, helping to raise awareness of the hidden dangers of UXO.

Highlighting the hidden dangers of UXO at Mappleton Beach

The radio broadcast placed a strong focus on the dangers posed by UXO, helping to dispel the common misconception that practice bombs are harmless. While many assume that training ordnance is inert, this is not the case.

It is estimated that around 300,000 practice bombs remain buried at Cowden, including 28lb practice bombs and 3” mortars. Many contain explosive substances such as phosphorus, which can still ignite or detonate. In fact, 20% of the UXO recovered by Brimstone at Cowden is still live, posing a serious risk to public safety.

If a member of the public were to pick up and take home a piece of UXO, there is a real danger of it becoming unstable and detonating, which could cause severe injury or worse.

During his interview, Paul Duckworth MBE issued a clear warning to beachgoers:
“This range has been here a long, long time. These bombs aren’t going away anytime soon. Come and enjoy the beach, but please do not touch the UXO.”

Why professional UXO risk management matters

Brimstone UXO is the UK’s only government-assured UXO company, providing industry-leading risk management services across the UK and overseas. Our expertise spans a wide range of sectors, including construction, coastal and marine operations, and defence.

For developers, contractors, and organisations operating in areas with potential UXO contamination, working with an experienced UXO company is essential. Brimstone offers comprehensive services, from risk assessments and on-site surveys to the safe disposal of ordnance, helping clients mitigate risks and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

To stay informed about our latest projects, safety initiatives, and industry insights, follow Brimstone UXO on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. You can also explore our website to learn more about our UXO risk management services.