Army fence will cost £108,000

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 24th May 2007

The cost of erecting a security fence at the Army firing ranges at Middlewick will be £108,000.

The figure has been disclosed by Defence Minister Mr Derek Twigg MP in response to a Parliamentary Question tabled by Colchester MP Bob Russell.

Mr Russell said today: "This is an astonishingly high figure to deal with the problems which it is claimed are being caused by vandals and anti-social behaviour, with the public having had access to this area for generations while the Army has been in Colchester without there hitherto being the level of problems which it is now said has necessitated a security fence being required.

"I therefore hope that the Council, Police and Ministry of Defence - in discussion with the local community - can consider if there are other ways in which the problems can be addressed without the need to close off large areas of Middlewick to the public and spend a large amount of public money on erecting a fence."

In his Answer the Minister added: "More detailed costs will be available once planning approval has been received and a more detailed specification has been established."

Mr Russell pointed out, however, that planning approval had not yet been given by the Borough Council and there had been a lot of public opposition registered.