Brian Blessed fears for National Park Star Wars threat
27 July 2001
The actor and adventurer, Brian Blessed, who has just become the President of the Council for National Parks (1) is visiting the proposed star wars base at Fylingdales in the North York Moors National Park on Friday August 3rd.
On his first official visit to a National Park in his new role Brian Blessed said: "the Fylingdales radar base(2) is already a blot on this beautiful moorland landscape and it is unthinkable that the United States' President Bush should want to make this a base for his "son of star wars" project. Now is the time to remove the whole base from the National Park".
The Council for National Parks has obtained legal advice, which it has sent to Stephen Byers MP, the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
This reminds the Government that National Parks enjoy the highest status of landscape protection and any proposal would need to be subject to a full environmental impact assessment and Public Inquiry. The proposal would also need to be tested to see if it met a "national need" under the Government's policies for major developments in National Parks (3).
"Prime Minister Blair should give President Bush a clear signal that a National Park is not the right place for this project. National Parks are there to be protected and there are strong planning policies that provide for this", said Brian Blessed. "The Prime Minister should give President Bush early warning that his plan would be unacceptable here."
Brian Blessed was visiting Fylingdales with the Council for National Parks and the North Yorkshire Moors Association (4). While in the North York Moors he also visited areas of the National Park affected by foot and mouth disease and helped the National Park Authority promote visits to the Park by using the Moorsbus rather than their cars (5).
He became CNP President last week at a handover event in the South Downs. His predecessor was Libby Purves, the broadcaster, journalist and writer.
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.
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. 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.'
2. 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
3. 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. The North Yorkshire Moors Association is an independent charity which exists to protect and enhance the characteristic beauty of The North Yorkshire Moors for present and future generations. It is a member of CNP's Council.
5. Further details about Brian Blessed's day (Thursday August 2nd) with the North York Moors National Park Authority can be obtained from its offices on 01439 770657.
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