MOD to close military harbour area at Hankley Common

In an effort to reduce disruption to military training, improve public safety and to curb an increasing number of incidents of fly-tipping and dog fouling, the MOD has decided to close the military harbour area on the Hankley Common Training Area to civilian vehicles.

Military users have gradually moved their activities to smaller zones to ensure safety for themselves and members of the public. However, public use of the harbour area is now having a detrimental effect on the Armed Forces’ ability to train safely and effectively.

The MOD is not obliged to provide car parking in the area. However, given the public’s long-standing use of the military harbour, Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) aims to provide civilian parking at a more suitable site.

Lt Col Richard Bishop, Commander Defence Training Estate (DTE) South East, said:

“Supporting our Armed Forces is the top priority for DIO. As well as providing a safe and sustainable training estate, we have a duty to protect both the public and the estate.

“The military harbour sits at the heart of Hankley Training Area. When members of the public enter the training area at this point, it creates a concentration of people, vehicles and animals close to the Drop Zone Huts. We have therefore decided, with regret, to close the area and offer a suitable replacement.

“Fly-tipping and dog fouling are also having a detrimental effect on the land itself which is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. We believe we are doing the right thing by closing the harbour area to public vehicles. There are, however, no plans to restrict responsible public access to Hankley Common.”

Zones, such as the harbour area, are required to enable military vehicles to pull off the public road and allow troops to disembark. A date for civilian closure has not yet been agreed, but the harbour area will not close until an alternative site has been chosen.

The former Polish Camp alongside the Thursley Road had been considered as an alternative, but has now been discounted. Other sites on the same side of the road as Hankley Common are being considered in discussion with Elstead and Thursley Parish Councils.

Military and public users have shared the area for a long time, but military training usage has increased considerably in recent years. In 2011, for example, Hankley Common saw 241,702 man training days. This represents an increase of approximately 34 per cent on the figures for 2009.

ENDS

Further information:

Press enquiries to: Tony Moran (DIO Senior Communications Officer) on 0121 311 3879 or email tony.moran@de.mod.uk

DIO website: http://www.mod.uk/ DIO/

Notes for editors:

1. Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is responsible for providing, developing and maintaining a safe and sustainable training estate and facilities to meet the requirements of Defence. 

2. Our work includes providing, supporting and improving: operational units; single living and service family accommodation; training areas and historic military sites. DIO actively manages these to ensure the needs of Defence are met, value for money is achieved, our heritage is protected and to achieve our environmental goals.

3. The area of DIO which delivers these outputs is called the Defence Training Estate (DTE). DTE specifically supports the training requirements of Defence by providing a safe and sustainable training estate and facilities. The DTE delivers military training facilities and training advice and support in order to prepare troops for operations worldwide. Safe operation of ranges and live firing areas, including public safety, is a prime consideration.

4. The military harbour area at Hankley Common, on the Longmoor Training Area, Defence Training Estate South East (DTE SE), has been used by the public as a car park for many years, although there are no motor vehicular access rights to it.  

5. Hankley and Elstead Commons form part of the DTE South East Region (which in turn is part of the DIO).  With the exception of an area leased from Hankley Golf Club, both sites are wholly owned by the MOD. Hankley Common consists of some 567 ha (1,401 acres) of heathland and pine woods with a stunning geographical feature of a large land bowl.  Traditionally the ‘bowl’ is used as a Drop Zone but has many other uses.  The area provides excellent and varied training opportunities for dismounted and vehicle-borne military training for both infantry and logistic units.

6. Elstead Common training area is located east of Hankley Common and offers a variety of training conditions. Together with Royal and Ockley Commons, the 173 ha (428 acre) site has a mix of open heathland, pine woods and bog land.  A road and track system within the training area allows users to bypass the village of Elstead. The area is used for minor platoon-level infantry or logistic training.

7. In April 2003, a strategic partnership was created with Landmarc Support Services who manage and maintain training facilities across the UK on behalf of DIO. 

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