Police said the move would “assist in preventing unauthorised access” but protest group G8 Alternatives slammed the development, insisting the force should not be creating an exclusion zone.

Willie Bald, Tayside Police’s assistant chief constable, said, “The fence is one element of the security measures being put in place at the venue for the G8 Summit and part of a comprehensive policing operation which will prevent unauthorised access to the venue.

“It clearly outlines the secure boundary lines which will be policed and where powers of arrest can be used if anyone attempts to get through the fencing.”

Group 4 securicor will provide a security presence until Tayside Police take overall control of security.

As the July meeting of world leaders draws closer, CCTV systems will be put in place around the cordon. Police patrols will also be stepped up.

A Tayside police spokesman insisted landowners were happy to give their permission for the fence to be built and said motorists should not expect any disruption to traffic flow.

“The building of the cordon creates no significant environmental impact and the force has been working with Scottish Natural Heritage to this end,” the spokesman explained. “Permission has also been received from landowners to enable the fence to be built.

Gleneagles Hotel and its grounds, including the golf courses, will operate as normal while the cordon is under construction,” he continued.

“It is not anticipated that there will be any disruption to traffic in the local area.”

Meanwhile, firefighters in Tayside have asked regional stations, both volunteers and full-time men, to register a vote of no-confidence in Chief Fire Officer Stephen Hunter over the issue of cover during the G8 international summit at Gleneagles in July.

The issue, over the weekend, of the threat of industrial action by firefighters over staff sickness and holiday cover being covered by volunteer firefighters overshadowed the meticulous preparations for the Gleneagles summit, where upwards of 5000 protesters are expected to congregate around Auchterarder and surrounding villages.

The problems in Dundee were exposed last week when volunteer firefighters were used to cover for staff shortages on Thursday.

CFO Stephen Hunter was unapologetic however, saying there were health and safety implications involved, adding that there was a policy of integrating staff with fire appliances, and there was no barrier to any employee working on a combination of different, whole time, part-time and retained duty systems.

Today, however, it appeared there may be a relaxation of hostilities in the coming days.

Tayside Fire Brigade Union Secretary Jim Malone said the issue was being taken up at a national level, and there would be ballots recorded at every station in Tayside, where the issue would be a confidence vote in Firemaster Hunter.

He said there would be meetings throughout the week, with the first tomorrow at Blackness Road, although there had been contact with the Chief Fire Officer with possible talks to be held on Tuesday, and he appealed for the fire board to put pressure on the CFO to take more concern over safety implications.

Mr Hunter said today that Tayside Fire and Rescue had made contact with the union, and there would possibly be contact tomorrow to discuss the issues involved.