RAF MENWITH HILL SECURITY FENCE PLANNING CONSENT APPLICATION

Reference:

A. Head of BBC Planning Services facsimile dated 7 August 1998.

1. Reference A formed the basis for discussion, on 11 August 1998, between officials of HBC LPA and RAF Menwith Hill with regard to a security fence planning consent. The following record of action, at paras 3 through 7, relates to the concerns of the LPA which were discussed at tbe meeting held at RAF Menwith Hill and reflects the undertaking given by the US/RAF Cdrs RAF Menwith Hill unless otherwise stated.

2. The LPA requested an introductory statement detailing the raison d'etre for the existence of RAF Menwith Hill and why the erection of a security fence was necessary. This statement has been prepared by MOD and GCHQ and is attached at Annex A.

3. [Para 5 of Reference A] We assured the LPA that a videotape record would only be made of attempts to scale or damage the fence. It was therefore contended tbat the Station CCTV system could not be construed as an infringement of civil liberties and law abiding citizens should bave no cause for concern. The Station also advised that individual cameras would be engineered so as not to target adjacent properties like Turpin's Lair and Station Married Quarters therefore no invasion of privacy should occur. The RAF Cdr had visited the owners of Turpin's Lair to discuss the camera and fence issue and it is believed that any concerns were alleviated.

4. [Para 06-07 HBC LA's COMMENTS] We agreed to maintain the integrity of the roadside woodland strip. Fence alignment would be undertaken in order to cause miniimal disruption to flora and fauna, with full liaison and cooperation with the DEO[L-N] and HBC Landscape Architects being assured.

5. [Para 07-08 HBC LA's COMMENTS] It was agreed that the NW fence may fall back commensurate with mitigating any adverse impact to the wetland area and so as to avoid damaging the habitat of resident orchids. It was also agreed that the new security fence would follow the general outline of the existing fence route and construction take place from either ends not across the wet land. The Station also accepted LPA advice to ground mark adjacent land to delineate the works area. The old fence would remain in position until the new fence had been erected in order to prevent unauthorised ingress onto the Station. Mr Brown accepted that the fence re-alignment represented an environmental improvement and would not be treated as a significant planning change requiring a resubmission.

6. [Para 09-10 HBC LA's COMMENTS] The oblique alignment of the fence east of the Main MODP Gatehouse was intended to limit tree removal but the HBC LA’s wishes with regard to realignment were agreed.

7. [Para 11-13 HBC LA's COMMENTS] Both parties accepted that the route of the NE fence line was contentious. While recognizing the concerns expressed by the HBC, LPA, Station representatives explained that the realignment of the proposed fence adjacent to the NE footpath presented a number of difficulties. Clarification of the Station rationale is as follows:

a. Experience has shown that Station assets are damaged when unprotected and failure to encapsulate the running track places the facility at risk from vandalism and possible disruption of Station functions by intruders as history has witnessed.

b. The use of the track by Menwith school children and other Station personnel necessitates access from the adjacent Married Quarter area. If a fence was sited to the east of the MQ site then ingress/egress to the track would need to be via Menwith Hill Road which would place children, in particular, at risk on the highway. Additionally, the uplift of sports equipment would need to be via the same road and through a disused or new gate through the boundary stone wall which would accrue an impediment to vehicular traffic. The incorporation of pedestrian and vehicle gates would reduce the security fence effectiveness and present extreme difficulty supervising usage of the entrances.

c. In the last year there have been incidents of attempted child abduction in the local community. As the sports field is isolated the inclusion of the area within a fenced enclosure would ameliorate parental concerns and ensure that the school authorities discharged their statutory duty of care obligations as required by UK and US authorities.

d. A primary reason for not aligning the fence South from Menwith Hill Road, to the East of the MQ’s to connect with the Northern Operational Compound, was the need to encompass the Pusher Site which has been subject to extremely costly sabotage. A compounding factor is that a fence adversely affects the operation of the Pusher equipment unless sited 300 feet from the ring array, hence the reason for not running the fence East-West adjacent to the stone wall to the North of this area. Consequently, the fence route was a balnced selection in order to satisfy operational restraints and not impinge upon the footpath route.

e. The NE fence is intended to run parallel to the footpath, but not less than 10 feet from it.

8. For over 15 years the Station has been the target of numerous acts of trepass, vandalism, sabotage and disruption of operations. Between 1 Jan 95 and 30 Apr 98 alone there were 836 reportable incidents involving damage of £150,000. Attributable improvements in security, amounting to some £3m, have always balanced the needs of the organization against those of the community with fencing priority being given to the operational areas. However, the luxury of “ring fencing” facilities is no longer an option and the provision of a sustainable Anti Terrorist/Force Protection fence which enhances personnel and facility security in addition to mitigating the lack of deterrent afforded by the Courts in respect of the Peace Protesters is now paramount.

9. In summary, the granting of planning consent for the overall security fence submissions would only afford a similar level of protection for the UK military and civilian staffs as approved for, and enjoyed by, the RN at HMS Forest Moor and Army at the AFC Harrogate. Equally, the same measure of security and peace of mind should not be denied our American allies who are stationed at RAF Menwith Hill to undertake a crucial joint defence role at the express invitation of Her Majesty’s Government.

(Signed)
ES SUMNER
Squadron Leader
RAF Commander

Annexes:

A. RAF Menwith Hill

Copy to:
Cllr Mrs P Barter, Chairman, Area 1 Sub Committee
Cllr Mrs G Ford, Vice-Chairman Area 1 Sub Committee
Mr D Harling, HBC Area Planning Officer
Mr H Taylor, DLA DEO[L-N][E] Catterick

Back to the CAAB Home Page - supported and maintained by: