THE police and fire service have been asked to review emergency procedures for high-rise buildings in Basingstoke after an incident caused severe disruption and left families feeling 'trapped' in their homes. 

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller has contacted the emergency services calling for a meeting to review emergency procedures for high-rise buildings in Basingstoke.

Her call comes following an incident on Friday, October 13 when emergency services were called to Alencon Link in Basingstoke town centre at around midday, to reports of a man throwing objects from a balcony at Skyline Plaza. 

The road from Eastrop Roundabout to Basingstoke train station was closed for six hours while police were at the scene. 

Mrs Millr said families were left "feeling trapped in their homes" during the incident. 

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Other emergency services also attended the scene and the man was detained and taken to hospital. 

Buses, taxis and cars were unable to access the road while the incident was underway, with a number of Stagecoach services unable to serve bus stops along Alencon Link and at the train station. 

Mrs Miller said: "I have called a meeting with the police and fire service to review the handling of the emergency incident on Alencon Link on Friday.

"The police were effective in ensuring the incident ended without injury to either those involved or passing members of the public.

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"However, residents are rightly asking whether anything can be learned for the future to reduce the impact on public transport, local families, and businesses.

"For six hours public transport, including the train station, suffered significant access restrictions and local families were left feeling trapped in their homes, unable to use cars parked in the vicinity.

"Safety must always come first. But residents have a right to know whether the same end result could have been achieved through different means and whether there are changes needed to the current procedures and protocols." 

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We don’t underestimate the disruption that can be caused by our response to concerns for welfare incidents, but our priority is the safety of the public.

"Officers attended this incident at Skyline Plaza on Friday 13 October, having received reports that a man was throwing objects from a balcony, at height.

"We closed part of Alencon Link as we were concerned for the welfare of the man involved as well as any passing pedestrian or motorist below.

"Thankfully, this was resolved safely. We want to re-iterate our thanks to people for their patience while we dealt with this incident and will be meeting with elected representatives to explain why the steps taken were necessary."

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were informed by Hants and IOW Constabulary of an incident on Alencon Link in Basingstoke at around midday on Friday.

"HIWFRS did not attend the scene, with the incident left with our police partners."