Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

PRESS RELEASE – URGENT – For Immediate Use

1st October 2003 – sent at 10.30pm for use when possible

CANCER PROBE AT FYLINGDALES FULLY JUSTIFIED

AS NATIONAL PARKS TURN DOWN ENQUIRY ON PLANNING GROUNDS, YORKSHIRE CND WELCOMES PROBE ON HEALTH GROUNDS

Yorkshire CND today welcomed news that Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust will undertake an epidemiological study at Fylingdales Early Warning base to asses whether cancer rates in the area are higher than in other parts of the country. The news comes as Yorkshire CND, as part of the Missile Defence Working Group (network of NGOs campaigning to put a halt to Missile Defence), gets ready to visit and tour the inside of the base tomorrow (THURSDAY).

The campaign organisation, which has a long-running campaign against the base and its role in the US Star Wars plan, has itself been investigating the issue of radiation for the last few months and has raised serious concerns about both the levels of radiation and the limits set by the government. As Dave Webb has explained and Yorkshire CND pointed out in their submission to the government before Fylingdales was given the go-ahead for involvement in Star Wars, the National radiological Protection Board safety limits for this kind of radiation are way below safe limits and the fact that the base’s radiation may fit within this limit is not a sign that the levels being emitted are safe to people or wildlife. That, Yorkshire CND explained, is why European levels for such radiation are much stricter and presumably why the UK chooses to ignore those levels.

The study was prompted by awareness-raising by organisation like Yorkshire CND, a BBC programme which highlighted the issue and the fact that a similar study is taking place in Cape Cod, in the USA, where a similar radar is causing cancer worries.

The news comes just a day after the North York Moors National Parks Authority refused to request planning permission for the upgrade necessary for the base’s role in Star Wars – a decision which disappointed campaigners.

Neil Kingsnorth, spokesperson for Yorkshire CND, said,

"This investigation is excellent news and we’re glad that the Care Trust has put the interests of local people first. We would like to see a full investigation in to radiation levels at present, levels as they will be when the base takes part in Missile Defense procedures and an independent test of the National radiological Protection Boards limits. We would also like to see a full probe in to the health effects of this radiation – not just cancer rates but all potential risks."

He continued,

"The base is a threat to the people of North Yorkshire due to its role in Missile Defense. As we have been saying for some time, its very role as a radar could be an even greater risk to the people of North Yorkshire. This cancer probe is very welcome and we hope it is start of a wider investigation."

The Missile Defence Working group will visit the base at 7pm tomorrow to tour the inside and raise concerns with the base commander.

ENDS

1) For more information and interviews, contact Neil Kingsnorth on 07818 411823 or 01274 730795

2) Story originally gained from Ceefax on Wednesday 1st October at 9pm

3) Yorkshire CND has called for an investigation in to radiation levels for some time. Professor Dave Webb can explain more about the potential health effects and risks of the radar. Contact neil Kingsnorth for more info.

4) More information about the base can be found at the Yorkshire CND website www.yorkshirecnd.org.uk and at their spcialist Fylingfdales site – www.cndyorks.gn.apc.org/fyl

5) Members of the Missile Defence Working Group from Yorkshire and London will be visiting the base from 7pm tomorrow and may be able to be in the area slightly earlier if requested for a photo shoot or interview.