Ms H Sephton,
Planning Office,
Department of Technical Services,
Borough Council Offices,
Harrogate HG1 2AU

Dear Ms Sephton,

Re: Menwith Hill USA National Security Agency SIGINT Station:
Notice of Proposed Development (DoE Circular 18/84 - whatever that is):
Canopy mounted on four legs, to cover Main Gate area, etc:

Regrettably, we believe that the public consultation period for "observations (which) will be taken into account when making the decision" has expired, without the opportunity for you to take our observations into consideration. The inevitable Planning Officer's decision to "offer no objections" to the plans already will have been made, minus our objections to influence the result. How can we complain about the mockery of democracy if we don't participate in the charade?

We should be very interested to learn what "national security" purpose this proposal for a canopy is considered to serve. Such consideration would be the only lawful justification for approving such development. Evidently our intrepid Ministry of Defence Police, who commendably guard the Main Gate, while leaving the rest of the perimeter unguarded, are reluctant to get wet in the execution of their duties.

It is evident that some of the installations at Menwith Hill, granted planning clearance by Harrogate Planning Department, have no conceivable relevance to the security of Britain. Indeed most of them constitute a threat to our national security. As the biggest US spy base in the World grows even bigger, it becomes a more obvious target for attack. Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee acknowledged that the US bases are targets and that there will be "collateral damage" (i.e. people living nearby will be killed).

I should be interested to learn if such considerations are "taken into account when making the decision". They ought to be, especially now, when the UK is on "Red Alert" to the possible threat of attack by the enemies of the USA.

Many people are concerned also that developments alongside the border of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are having a detrimental effect on the beauty of that area. This will deteriorate further as the canopy flies off, with or without its four legs, over the Yorkshire Dales, in the notorious winter gales at Menwith Hill.

Yours sincerely,

Anne Lee.  pp WoMenwith Hill Women.