CAAB at Menwith Hill

MENWITH HILL - PROPOSED SECURITY FENCE

Drawing no. A000628/01 rev. A

HBC Landscape architect's comments on proposed fence, referenced by numbered camera positions

01-02 This section runs close to and parallel with the existing fence. Removal of some recently established screen planting will be necessary to accommodate the fence and clear zone. However, most of the planting will not be affected and will serve as backdrop or screen for the fence, minimising visual impact and impact on landscape character. Acceptable.

02-03 This section would run parallel to the road, but behind an existing stone wall and hedge. Removal of some recently established screen planting will be necessary to accommodate the fence and clear zone. New planting is proposed behind the new fence. Acceptable.

03-06 This section would run parallel to the road, but behind an existing thin and intermittent hedge. New planting to thicken up the hedge and management to retain as a dense, tall screen will be necessary. Acceptable.
**Removal of existing chain link fence parallel with new fence 02-05 is welcome.
06-07 This section running parallel to the road passes through Pine Wood and would necessitate the removal of mature Scots Pine and associated conifers. The integrity of the roadside woodland edge needs to be maintained both for visual/landscape reasons and to act as a buffer/wind screen to prevent wind getting into the plantation and bringing down trees made vulnerable to windblow due to the removal of neighbouring trees for the fence. Some minor modification of the alignment may be necessary to find the least damaging path through the plantation and provide a decent thickness of woodland edge. Acceptable subject to modifications.

07-08 This section is drawn to include an area of scrub and grassland within the security zone, and runs close to a public right of way. The inclusion of the grassy/scrub area is unnecessary and separates an attractive area from the public. The proximity of the fence to the public right of way would have a significant adverse effect on the amenity of the footpath. This section is therefore unacceptable.
Recommendation: realign fence to run parallel with existing fence. A parallel fence should be erected to delineate a contractors' working area during construction to prevent tracking over the majority of the grass/scrub area (see overmarked plan)

08-09 This section runs parallel to the road but behind existing hedge to be retained. Acceptable.

09-10 This section runs around the car parking area at the security lodge then angles through a planted area to run behind the existing fence. This would involve the loss of existing established screen planting.
New planting is proposed behind the new fence.
Recommendation: the oblique alignment of the fence is unsatisafactory. The fence should return along the end of the car park to mirror the car parking area west of the gatehouse, then run parallel with the road.

10-11 This section runs parallel with the road in close proximity to the buildings. Acceptable.

11-13 This section cuts diagonally across a rectilinear field, following the crest of the landform. The field is typical of the rectilinear field pattern of the local landscape, a strong pattern characteristic of the Parliamentary Enclosure field systems of the 18th and 19th centuries. The field appears part of the wider landscape and helps provide a transition between the developed parts of the station and the surrounding pastoral landscape. Cutting the field diagonally and planting up with amorphous planting areas would be in conflict with the landscape pattern and would cause serious harm to the local landscape character. This section is unacceptable.
Recommendation: realign the fence to follow the dry stone wall on the station sides of the field, leaving the field open and unplanted.

13-16 This section runs parallel with the road, behind the generally tall and thick existing hedge. New planting to thicken up the hedge in places and management to retain as a dense, tall screen will be necessary. Acceptable.

16-17 This section runs across the field to link with the internal security fence. Acceptable.

AJM
3.8.98

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01-02	This section runs close to and parallel with the existing fence. Removal of some recently established screen planting will be necessary to accommodate the fence and clear zone. However, most of the planting will not be affected and will serve as backdrop or screen for the fence, minimising visual impact and impact on landscape character. Acceptable.
02-03	This section would run parallel to the road, but behind an existing stone wall and hedge. Removal of some recently established screen planting will be necessary to accommodate the fence and clear zone. New planting is proposed behind the new fence. Acceptable.
03-06	This section would run parallel to the road, but behind an existing thin and intermittent hedge. New planting to thicken up the hedge and management to retain as a dense, tall screen will be necessary. Acceptable.

06-07	This section running parallel to the road passes through Pine Wood and would necessitate the removal of mature Scots Pine and associated conifers. The integrity of the roadside woodland edge needs to be maintained both for visual/landscape reasons and to act as a buffer/wind screen to prevent wind getting into the plantation and bringing down trees made vulnerable to windblow due to the removal of neighbouring trees for the fence. Some minor modification of the alignment may be necessary to find the least damaging path through the plantation and provide a decent thickness of woodland edge. Acceptable subject to modifications.
07-08	This section is drawn to include an area of scrub and grassland within the security zone, and runs close to a public right of way. The inclusion of the grassy/scrub area is unnecessary and separates an attractive area from the public. The proximity of the fence to the public right of way would have a significant adverse effect on the amenity of the footpath. This section is therefore unacceptable. Recommendation: realign fence to run parallel with existing fence. A parallel fence should be erected to delineate a contractors' working area during construction to prevent tracking over the majority of the grass/scrub area (see overmarked plan)
08-09	This section runs parallel to the road but behind existing hedge to be retained. Acceptable.
09-10	This section runs around the car parking area at the security lodge then angles through a planted area to run behind the existing fence. This would involve the loss of existing established screen planting. New planting is proposed behind the new fence. Recommendation: the oblique alignment of the fence is unsatisafactory. The fence should return along the end of the car park to mirror the car parking area west of the gatehouse, then run parallel with the road.
10-11	This section runs parallel with the road in close proximity to the buildings. Acceptable.
11-13	This section cuts diagonally across a rectilinear field, following the crest of the landform. The field is typical of the rectilinear field pattern of the local landscape, a strong pattern characteristic of the Parliamentary Enclosure field systems of the 18th and 19th centuries. The field appears part of the wider landscape and helps provide a transition between the developed parts of the station and the surrounding pastoral landscape. Cutting the field diagonally and planting up with amorphous planting areas would be in conflict with the landscape pattern and would cause serious harm to the local landscape character. This section is unacceptable. Recommendation: realign the fence to follow the dry stone wall on the station sides of the field, leaving the field open and unplanted.
13-16	This section runs parallel with the road, behind the generally tall and thick existing hedge. New planting to thicken up the hedge in places and management to retain as a dense, tall screen will be necessary. Acceptable.
16-17	This section runs across the field to link with the internal security fence. Acceptable.