The Conservative Peer said the project was a “most appalling waste” and called for the 2012 shooting events to be moved to Bisley in Surrey, where the National Shooting Centre (NSC) is based.

Lucas said: “Is it not a strange definition of cost-effective and a most appalling waste to spend £40 million on a shooting venue at Woolwich, which will be destroyed immediately after the Olympics, rather than £10 million less for a facility at Bisley that will be used for generations?"

There is little support within the sport for it to be held at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich because they believe it does not offer them any legacy.

They have been lobbying hard for it to be included at the NSC, which was the original location for the sport but was changed during London's bid on the advice of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make it more compact.

But the Board ruled out Bisley because they claimed none of the existing ranges there are suitable for Olympic and Paralympic competition and that it would require extra athlete and officials' accommodation.

They also claimed that the land ownership at Bisley Camp is complex and separate agreements would need to be made with the different gun clubs who are based there.

They were also concerned that the site lies within a greenbelt area adjacent to housing and is a desginated site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and securing planning constent represented a signifcant risk.

Former Tory Sports Minister Lord Moynihan, who is chairman of the British Olympic Association and a member of the London 2012 Board, said holding the shooting at Bisley would require “highly sensitive development” on greenbelt land.

Lord Davies of Oldham, the Government's Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords, said: “The Olympic Games are London's Olympic Games and should take place as far as possible within the confines of London."