'Son of star wars' threat to National Park
22 February 2001
The Council for National Parks1 has called on the Prime Minister, who meets US President George W Bush on Friday (23/02/01) to ensure that the North York Moors National Park is protected. President Bush plans to make Fylingdales2, in the National Park, a key element of the US National Missile Defence system. If the plans go ahead they will involve a huge structure - at least 14 storeys - to accommodate a new early-warning system in the middle of open moorland.
CNP Director Vicki Elcoate said: "CNP is concerned that the 'son of star wars' proposals for Fylingdales will be decided in the political arena rather than going through the proper planning procedures. These would allow full evaluation of the impacts on the nationally important landscape of the North York Moors National Park. CNP is calling on the British Government to ensure that the decision making is open and that it will involve rigorous public examination, including full consideration of National Park purposes3."
"If the Government decides to allow the UK to be used for the National Missile Defence System, it must fully investigate alternative options, including removing the radar station to a less damaging location outside the National Park."
Fylingdales has been at the centre for controversy since the 1960s when the original 'golf balls' early-warning system was built. In 1987 the National Park Authority was unhappy at the prospect of further buildings on the site when the system was upgraded to a pyramid shaped radar station 4. At that time the MoD acknowledged that ' there is an inherent conflict between it and the statutory purposes for which the Park has been designated' but felt it would be impossible to relocate the facility as it would raise problems for the US meeting its obligations under the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
Notes to editors
1 The Council for National Parks is the national charity that works to protect and enhance the National Parks of England and Wales and areas that merit National Park status, and promote understanding and quiet enjoyment of them for the benefit of all.
2 RAF Fylingdales, in the North York Moors National Park, is a joint Ministry of Defence and US Military Ballistic Missile Early Warning System. As part of the US proposals for the National Missile Defence system the current 'pyramid' radar would be upgraded to make it more accurate and a new X-band radar constructed to provide tracking information to the interceptor missiles while in flight. A 14-storey prototype X-Band radar has already been constructed at the Kwajelein range near Hawaii.
3 National Parks are designated to protect the "jewels in the crown" of the landscape and to help ensure people are able to enjoy them. The statutory purposes of designation are:
- To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Parks and
- To promote opportunities for the public understanding and enjoyment of their special qualities
The MoD has a statutory duty to have regard to the purposes of the Park. Government guidance states that the MoD is 'expected to be able to demonstrate that they have fulfilled this duty.' (Department of the Environment Circular 12/96 paragraph 19)
4 In 1987 the North York Moors National Park Authority, which is also the planning authority for the area, stated 'it deplored the siting of the station in the National Park and deeply regretted its modernisation, but decided not to object provided the Secretary of State for the Environment was satisfied beyond all doubt that there was no possible alternative site.' It went on to say, 'we will continue to press for the early warning station to be removed from the Park when further redevelopment is contemplated.'
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