WOMENWITH HILL WOMEN'S PEACE CAMP(AIGN) at Menwith Hill US Space-War Spy Base, P.O. Box 105, HARROGATE. HG3 2FE Sunday 13th August 2000

Mr D. Harling,
Planning Office,
Borough Council Offices,
West Grove Rd.,
HARROGATE. HG1 2AE

RE: PLANNING APPLICATION: MENWITH HILL; CONTINUED USE OF SATCOM CAR PARK:

We wish to submit objection to the application on the following grounds:

i). This car park/lorry park/storage area was constructed without seeking planning approval: we believe that it is as a result of bringing the matter to the attention of the Local Government Ombudsman that this application has been advertised.

We have made previous objections that the United States' National Security Agency erects structures inside Menwith Hill Station without the approval of the Planning Committee of the Harrogate Borough Council. Is this practice to be permitted to continue?

ii). The hard-standing on an elevated mound (of aggregate?) has a substantial impact on the environment of the wetland hillside. This is not a minor, but a significant development, further destroying the hill.

iii). It is visible from the adjacent Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; its elevation makes anything parked thereon silhouetted against the sky. We believe that it is required for the use of US Army mobile dish antennas, which are transported on the back of a low-loader and can be unfolded on location. These temporary dishes have been deployed on the SATCOM site in the past, but we believe that the erection of the weldmesh fence surrounding the SATGOM "golf-ball" radomes interferes with the incoming signals for these low-mounted aerials and this "car park" (which does not appear to be used by the personnel operating SATCOM's US Armed Forces' Communications) is the alternative site.

iv). The Planning Committee was given no opportunity to consider whether the drainage oil interception is adequate. The site drains into the Leeds/Otley water supply via Spinksburn Beck and Swinsty Reservoir. It is imperative that such matters are inspectected closely before developments of this nature (i.e. possible discharge of contaminant) are allowed.

v). The SATCOM "hardstanding" and the area to its immediate north, have been the scene of much excavation activity during the past eight (8) years, or so. We believe that an elevated leaking oil storage tank alongside the Antenna Maintenance Workshops at the top of OPs Road, and which leaked for a number of years, polluted the land in the area between the Antenna Maintenance Workshops and SATCOM. A massive underground oil interceptor has been constructed without seeking any planning approval.

We should be grateful if you would bring these points to the attention of the Planning Committee, although we are aware that we are wasting our time and energy by bothering to submit an objection; the committee ought to be aware of the significance of the plans they so readily pass without objection.

Yours sincerely,

Anne Lee, U Edwards, Helen John

pp WOMENWITH HILL WOMEN'S PEACE CAMP(AIGN)

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