Due to concerns that they may harm local wildlife, lead pellets are banned at the facility, which hosted full bore rifle shooting at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh but is primarily used as a Ministry of Defence (MoD) Training Centre.

But, with the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) insisting that lead pellets must be used instead of steel alternatives due to their greater accuracy, a temporary amendment lifting the ban especially for the Games has been passed.

The lifting of the ban will be "purely for the purpose of the competition", although this may also include several days before and after the event, and the amendment was passed after consultation with various authorities and environmental organisations.

English rising star Amber Hill will be among those hoping to compete at the Barry Buddon Shooting Centre this year ©Getty Images

A Scottish Government spokesman described how much care has been taken to avoid environmental harm and to ensure the best possible outcome given the circumstances. 

"Strict measures are in place to ensure the clay target event at Barry Buddon will not put wildlife within the conservation area at risk," he told insidethegames. 

"Measures include the use of a permeable membrane to recover the bulk of the lead shot, to prevent lead shot entering any wetland area."

The ban regarding lead pellets was introduced in 1990 to protect wildfowl and water-birds from killing themselves by digesting the pellets, and with the Games to be held during the breeding season for birds, these concerns are particularly high. 

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has led the criticism and has questioned the effectiveness of a permeable membrane until more details concerning how it will work in reality are released.

"Without far greater detail on the type of covering and a better understanding of the risks of habitat loss or effectiveness in protecting against water contamination in laying and removing this covering, it is not possible for us to give a reasoned answer as to why this event should be allowed to take place over a wetland," the organisation argued. 

But other environmental organisations have responded positively to the latest plans, it is claimed. 

Carnoustie is an area of natural beauty best known for its golf course ©Getty Images

There had been much controversy over the use of venue for environmental reasons due to the fact that the surrounding countryside is an European Union Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds under the European Birds Directive.

With the facility holding unique dune habitats, vascular plants, mosses and invertebrates as well as breeding birds, planning application was only belatedly approved by Angus Council last year, while the start of construction work was announced by Glasgow 2014 just last month.

However, the Organising Committee has repeated the insistence of the Scottish Government that appropriate measures have been taken. 

"All Commonwealth Games shotgun events are conducted according to International Shooting Sport Federation rules and regulations," a spokesperson told insidethegames. 

"These rules state and allow for the use of lead shot only in the shotgun events as it is considered the best performance option for athletes.

"Glasgow 2014 has worked closely with Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Angus Council and the Ministry of Defence to develop a strategy for lead clearance.

"During the event, a mesh covering will be laid on the ground to gather shot fallout and debris from all the clay targets at the Barry Buddon Shooting Centre at Carnoustie."