A ‘NEGLECTED’ historic monument could be facing closure if nothing is done to tackle the illegal raves and parties held there, it is feared.

Cllr Margaret Leicester believes the High Angle Battery at the Verne on Portland is being ignored by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council which owns the site – while police have hinted that continued unauthorised use could result in the site being closed to visitors.

New signage and locks have been installed to discourage people from using the Battery without permission. But locks have been cut off gates on several occasions – while the historic tunnels are often found full of rubbish including needles and bottles.

Sergeant Ged Want from Portland Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “From a local policing perspective, we fully support community events that are lawfully held.

“However, we will look to work alongside the council to address unlicensed events and issues that come with such events.

“We will be increasing patrols in the area over the next few weeks and will be reporting back to the council with our observations.

“I would urge anyone considering organising any event at the High Angle Battery to gain the appropriate consent, or there is a risk that a more permanent solution to reducing unauthorised access will be considered and this will naturally have an impact on those persons wishing to visit the site lawfully.”

The site is a derelict Victorian gun battery which was built in 1892 and has been Grade II listed since 1993. The Battery is protected by English Heritage as a scheduled ancient monument. Anyone wishing to use the site must obtain a licence to do so from the council.

Cllr Leicester, who represents the Tophill ward on Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “We’ve always had problems up there, but it has been neglected for years.

“The problem is that no-one really looks after it. It is in a very isolated area and very difficult to police. It’s an important part of Portland’s heritage. It is a very unique site and it is probably Portland’s equivalent of the Nothe Fort.

“I’m sure if similar problems were happening in Weymouth, it would be sorted straight away.

“It was originally inherited by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council by the old Portland Urban District Council – but it has really been neglected since then.

“There are problems with bottles and needles and all sorts of horrible things in the tunnels. No-one seems to want to take responsibility for it.

“The council could use it as a tourist attraction and use the money raised to help maintain it – but there really is a lack of responsibility from the borough council.”

The council has erected notices at the site, informing visitors that they need permission to use the site.

Cllr Mike Goodman, briefholder for community safety at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “The High Angle Battery is a popular scheduled ancient monument on Portland, owned by the borough council and enjoyed by the public who have open access to the area.

“However in recent months the site has been used to hold parties without the council’s consent.

“Locks have been cut on the gated entrances to the tunnels and the tunnels have been left full of debris such as broken glass, resulting in a significant hazard to the general public and cost to the council to clear up.

“The general public’s safety is of paramount importance and we are working with Dorset Police to ensure that offenders are identified and incidents like this are reduced so the public can continue to visit and enjoy this historic site safely.”