Residents have opposed police plans to install a three-metre-high fence at headquarters in Netley after concerns were raised over terrorism.

The Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) submitted a planning application to install a three-metre-high fence to improve security at the Southern support and police training headquarters.

The headquarters covers an area of over 20 hectares and houses “critical” departments, which require 24 hours and seven days a week access - but has “poor” security measures. 

It is also used for the training of new and existing officers. The site contains a listed building, Victoria House, and the southern side of the site falls under the listing of the wider Royal Victoria Country Park.

After a ‘customary counter-terrorism assessment’ was carried out, it showed security concerns about the site’s open nature.

The OPCC submitted a planning application to Eastleigh Borough Council to address the security and safety concerns.

The proposal aims to install a three-metre-high fence with a spiked topper to protect against climb-over attempts along the perimeter of the wider site.

It also adds and replaces vehicle and pedestrian gates at the main access through Hamble Lane and secondary access at Hound Road with new controlled and monitored gates for site security purposes.

Works will also include space for turning vehicles, widening and improvement to allow two-way traffic and emergency service access at all times at the site access off Hamble Lane and improvements to the footpath and pedestrian crossing from the Hamble Rail Trail to the Country Park.

The report said that critical operational assets such as the HQ could be seen as a “key target to criminal and terrorist organisations”. Therefore, improving security at the site will provide a safe and secure environment for staff and visitors.

In a letter, Mike Ottaway, head of estates and facilities management for the OPCC, said the security improvements would make the site “safer” and provide “greater protection to the surrounding area”. 

“Moreover, members of the public utilising the surrounding rights of way on the site’s perimeter need to be protected.

"Members of the public have been accustomed for years to crossing the site to reach the country park, despite the ‘no unauthorised access’ signs. This is a safety and security risk.”

However, 13 comments were received by the borough council objecting to the proposal.

Peter Doughty said there is no real justification for installing a fence on the playing field to the west of the building. 

“This area could hardly be described as an operational policing asset or a critical department/infrastructure.

“No clear reasoning is given for enclosing this additional green space. It is unclear why this substantial additional fencing (with the concurrent additional public expenditure) is required to meet the security objective identified as the basis for the fence.”

Guy and Angela Malpas, like many other residents, stated that Hound Road has been used as an emergency entrance for years, which is not reflected in the application.

Instead, they said, it is just referred to as a “secondary entrance”. 

They said: “Any increase in traffic at the “secondary Hound Road entrance” will significantly impact the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, children, dogs and other road users."

A decision is due to be made by the council on March 27.