Otterburn military plans out of date and out of time
29 May 2001
Ministry of Defence plans for a major development in the Northumberland National Park are now so out of date they should be turned down by the new Government, say National Park campaigners (1) (2).
The Council for National Parks has written to the Secretary of State for the Environment to say that approving the plans would be unlawful, because the rockets which the Army says justifies the development are redundant and about to run out.
"These plans date from 1992 and were announced by a Conservative government in a totally different context and with different priorities", said Sir Chris Bonington, Honorary Vice President of the Council for National Parks (3).
"Military training needs can be met as effectively with far less cost to the environment and to the public purse, allowing funds to be diverted into more worthwhile areas. The damage to one of our most remote and unspoilt National Parks would be catastrophic and does not need to happen. These plans should be turned down and modern plans to meet today’s military training needs drawn up which don't desecrate this country's most beautiful landscapes.
"A new Government would not want to implement plans that are nine years old from a different political era and for redundant rockets – dinosaur plans which should now be extinct".
The Ministry of Defence wants to build or widen 73 km of road, build an enormous parking area for weapons and other blots. This would allow training to go ahead with the Multi-Launch Rocket System and the AS90 gun – some of the biggest and longest range weapons in use by the Army.
The environmental impacts include:
- Noise
- Toxic acid pollution from the rockets
- Irreversible and substantial damage to the landscape
- Disturbance to wildlife, including the rare black grouse
CNP has found out that the Army only has 251 M28 training rockets left to fire from the Multi-Launch Rocket System and that no more are to be procured.
"The whole plan was justified on the basis of a short term weapons system, which is now redundant.
The supply of rockets left would last about two years and would probably run out before the roads and other development were built. Yet this damaging development would remain, allowing training with other, even more damaging weapons systems ", said Sir Chris.
"The previous Labour government showed its commitment to National Parks with its access legislation and by kick-starting the designation of two new National Parks in England. This development – which now no longer needs to go ahead - would seriously undermine the Government's commitment to 'put the environment at the heart of policy making.'"
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. The MoD wants to develop the Otterburn Training Area, which occupies 22% of the Northumberland National Park to enable heavy tracked artillery to train. The proposals are to build and upgrade 73 km of road, new gun firing positions and other facilities for training with the 45 tonne AS90 and 25 tonne Multi Launch Rocket Systems.
3. Chris Bonington will be available for comment on May 30th. Please contact the CNP office to arrange this.
4. The development plans were the subject of two Public Inquiry sessions – in 1997 and 1999 and a decision was most recently delayed by Human Rights cases in the High Court and at the House of Lords.
5. Other objectors include the Northumberland National Park Authority, Northumberland County Council, the Countryside Agency, Ramblers’ Association, CPRE, the Youth Hostels Association, the Northumberland and Newcastle Society, Natural History Society of Northumbria, Association of Voluntary Countryside Wardens, Association of National Park Authorities, Ponteland Parish Council and many local residents.
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