CAAB = Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases
Produced by: Anni and Lindis
Indigo, 8 Park Row, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 IHQ, UK
Tel No. 01943 466405 or 01482 702033
Fax No. 01482 702033
E-mail: caab.lindis_anni@virgin.net
SECURITY FENCE DEVELOPMENTS
SECURITY FENCE GETS GO AHEAD ... BUT ...
click here for the big picture
Plan for fence - click on it for a bigger picture

Application No. 6.500.181 CROWND for the erection of security fencing around Menwith Hill Station was passed by Harrogate Area 1 Planning Sub Committee on Tues 25th August at Ripon Town Hall.

Full details are given in the report and recommendations;

A fax from the MOD:

click here to see the text of the fax

is included as Appendix A;

An annex to the fax is given as Appendix B and gives the RAF version of Menwith Hill;

The Landscape srchitect's comments are given as Appendix C;

(See also the statement accompanying the original planning application).

For the first time since the base was occupied and controlled by the American visiting forces in the early 1950s fencing, razor wire and cameras are to be installed on the edge of the base. A field opposite the base is to be fenced off with chain link fencing and there is to be a new Main Gate. The base is situated in Nidderdale and was deliberately excluded from the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but can be seen for miles around.

At the Public Meeting at Ripon Town Hall, Anne Lee from the Women's Peace Camp spoke about the orchids although the fence had already been revised and the base has agreed to consult with English Heritage and to allow a survey of the orchids during the next flowering season to determine if there really are rare orchids on the site as it is unclear at the moment.

Lindis from CAAB spoke about the lack of democracy; how the base had been allowed to grow, and that no fence will stop the determined terrorist. She asked that the fence be held up under Circular 44(para 21) of the Town and Country Planning Act which allows planning applications to be referred on to the Secretary of State for the Environment for a public inquiry; that the application be referred to the full planning committee, or that it be deferred until the European Parliament debate issues of legality and jurisdiction of American National Security Agency economic spying from British soil, mentioning the STOA Report.

However, the chair assured everyone that:

  • MHS is a RAF base;
  • the planning application had been put in by the MOD, not the Americans;
  • it was "necessary for national security";
  • the base is a military establishment and all our military establishments have security fences.
The fence did get the go-ahead but the Sub Committee recommended that the following steps should be taken:
  • a) Realignment in the north-west corner in accordance with the amended plan received on 17.8.98
  • b) The MOD should take advice from English Nature or other experts on the mitigation of any potential adverse impacts on rare plant species in the north-west corner.
  • c) Liaison should take place with the Council's Landscape Architect on the detailed alignment in certain areas.
  • d) There should be no landscape planting in the field at the north-east.
  • e) Existine, hedgerows should be reinforced with extra planting as defined in the Landscape Architect's assessment.
One Councillor commented on local TV afterwards that, when it came to this application they were "dummies at the taxpayers expense". Three or four councillors expressed frustration at their lack of power in the face of MHS planning applications.

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