Would incoming missiles shot down over Nidderdale distribute radioactive wreckage? Would Menwith Hill become a terrorist target if Son of Star Wars programme goes ahead? How much protection will Harrogate get?

These are questions which Harrogate Council are finding impossible to answer - because they simply do not know.

Frustrated with a lack of information, communication and consultation, the council has written a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair himself - and they are demanding to be heard.

The letter posted yesterday [10 May 01] with cross party agreement [including the Tories] hopes to open the lines of communication for some real answers about the US base ...

...Chief Executive Mick Walsh said "it was high time information regarding the base and its role in the missile defence programme was given to the very people it was going to affect most - the people of Harrogate district... no consultation has been carried out with this council..."

"No doubt you will have heard of a report in The Observer in which the Prime Minister quite clearly said all planning decisions regarding Menwith Hill were in the hands of this council.

But we have no control over crown land and even if we did object, the objection would go back to the Department of Environment and the Regions. [& in January the DoE stated that it was Harrogate's responsibility & sent it back!] ...nor do we want it to become a site for mass protest..."

The council also voted to consider attending the Menwith Hill Forum...

"They want to know what is going on here," he said. "And I think their organisation are more in the know than we are..."

The letter has also been circulated to leaders of both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, North Yorkshire MP's and MEP's.

(See also: Town strikes back over base)