English Heritage is seeking to secure parts of Falmouth's Pendennis Headland further and deter trespassers.

This application is for the installation of fencing and gates at either end of the track linking One Gun Battery and Half Moon Battery, on the southern perimeter of the site.

It is proposed to install replacement gates and fencing at either end of the track between One Gun Battery and Half Moon Battery due to issues with unauthorised access to the site.

The track is accessible from a public track/ path, and English Heritage says the present gates and fencing are being "easily breached".

The proposal involves the installation of more robust mild steel fencing and gates at an increased height of 1.8 metres.

The Half Moon Battery is being accessed from the gaps on either side of the gates, and over the gates. The new gates and fencing would run across it.

A spokesperson for English Heritage commented:

"The perimeter of the site is readily accessible to members of the

public, and this can create issues with visitors entering the site without paying, but also with out- of hours trespass, which can result in vandalism of the heritage asset. "Whilst this has been an identified problem for some time, it has been more apparent during recent lockdowns related to the pandemic, and has continued throughout 2021. This has presented a risk whilst staff have been lone-working, and also with two-holiday cottages on site. "People trespassing out of hours can put the visitors staying on-site in a vulnerable position, when there is the expectation that after hours they have sole occupancy, and that the site is secured." The application details damage to the post and wire fencing being broken and bent over the past year. There were also incidents of wires being repeatedly cut, and temporary fencing removed. They continued: "The present height of the gates and fence does not prevent access to the site; site staff have witnessed members of the public lifting children over, and then climbing over themselves. "As well as the damage to the fencing, overnight trespass has also been identified by litter being left on site. The site has also suffered vandalism as a result of trespass, most recently in May 2021 when a timber hatch within Half Moon Battery was kicked in." "The installation of the new gates and fencing will be of public benefit in limiting the opportunities for trespassers to gain easy access to the site, and thereby better protecting this nationally important heritage asset, along with staff and paying visitors to the site," the applicant added. The current status of the application is "awaiting decision". Click here to see the plans for yourself. [H3] See the latest news on our Twitter and Facebook pages. [.H2]