A LARGE sports field belonging to Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's headquarters in Eastleigh is to be sold off for a business park.

The fire service's director of corporate services, David Howells, who is in charge of the sale, confirmed the job-creating plans.

He expressed anger that a fire service spokesman had earlier stated publicly that the parcel of land would not be sold.

"Heads will roll," warned Mr Howells, regarding the wrong information being issued.

The service spokesman had told the Daily Echo last week that "we have no plans to sell" the field.

But it emerged today that Mr Howells had already approved in principle plans for a business park.

Now the scheme, worked out with Eastleigh council, is almost finalised, with just details of the exact type of small business to be decided before planning applications are sought.

Mr Howells said: "I was astonished and disappointed to read the article headed "Fire service extinguishes industry bid" that appeared in last Thursday's Echo.

"I really don't know why this wrong information was given out.

"I have been working constructively with Eastleigh Borough Council to produce a development brief for an area of potentially surplus land.

"The area in question is not a designated sports field.

"While we do use the area for staging occasional public open days, the land is not critical to our core business activities at headquarters.

"The Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority has given its approval in principle to dispose of a parcel of land fronting Leigh Road.

"Working closely with Eastleigh Borough Council, a scheme has been drawn up - as part of the Local Plan - that would give support for the development of office and hi-tech business accommodation.

"The site would not be suitable for housing.

"The only major concern the Fire Authority has is the requirement for a number of 'start-up business units' to be included within any future scheme. It is felt that this could have a detrimental impact on the potential value of the site. Comments have been made as part of the formal consultation process on this particular point."

A spokesman for Eastleigh council said: "Following an indication that the fire service were considering the sale of the land at the Leigh Road headquarters, the council has been working with them to establish the possibility for development on the site.

"It's in a commercial area and is a good location for smaller industrial units for up and coming industrial units which would also provide jobs."