Iconic Gibraltar naval station receives £2m revamp

The outpost with arguably the best view in the Navy is to receive a £2m upgrade as Gibraltar's iconic 'Windy Hill' station is partially rebuilt.

Sitting high above the Strait of Gibraltar, personnel at the monitoring facility keep an eye on 60,000 ships entering or leaving the Mediterranean, or crossing between Africa and Europe.

But after more than a century of constant operations, keeping an eye on traffic visually, over the radio and electronically, Windmill Hill Signal Station - to give the facility its correct title - needs work.

Over the next 12 months, the complex will be expanded and improved, with extra monitoring equipment installed.

The station, which is located on the hill of the same name about one third of a mile from the southern tip of Gibraltar - allows near-panoramic views of the strait and neighbouring bay.

Although now under Joint Force Command rather than reporting directly to the RN, it draws the bulk of its staff from the RN.

They monitor 60,000 or so vessels per year on behalf of the United Kingdom and its allies - and also support the international fight against drug trafficking; the narrow waters separating the two continents are a known route for shipping narcotics into Europe - an information provided by Windy Hill has led to illegal shipments of drugs and tobacco being seized.

The Commander British Forces Gibraltar, Commodore Mike Walliker, got work under way on the extension with a ceremonial breaking ground ceremony at the site - nicknamed Windy Hill because of its exposure to a near constant onrush of air.

He says the upgrade will usher in "a new chapter in the long and distinguished history of Windy Hill" - there's been a monitoring centre here since the late 19th Century - and bring it "bang up-to-date".

He continued: "The facelift that we are giving over the next few months means that the first-class support that the Rock has provided to the many tens of thousands of ships of all shapes, sizes and nationalities which all - annually - navigate through one of, if not the most important maritime choke-points, will improve and be second to none.

"Equally - and importantly - today serves as a warning and a reminder to all those who wish to use this narrow and congested stretch of water for criminal or nefarious activity."