CNP was briefed about the blunder by the Defence Minister, Dr Lewis Moonie MP, today.

Dr Moonie provided reassurances that the Ministry of Defence would now be carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment and asking the North York Moors National Park Authority for retrospective permission.

The base commander apparently decided to strengthen protection at the base after the September 11^th terrorist attacks in New York and built a new access road and higher fence. The access road drains on to a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Minister confirmed that he only found out about the mistake this week.

"There have been many concerns about plans to upgrade Fylingdales for the United States "Son of Star Wars" missile system" (2), said Vicki Elcoate, CNP Director. "This incident has heightened concerns that Fylingdales could be developed by the back door, without proper public scrutiny. However the Minister has provided reassurances and said this won’t happen again – which is very welcome".

The North York Moors National Park Authority – which is the planning authority – has confirmed that it will be considering an application for retrospective planning permission.

"It’s important that the Ministry of Defence follows the proper procedures, especially in a sensitive area like a National Park", said Vicki Elcoate. "The Government is planning a change in the law (3) so military developments are brought fully into the planning system. That’s something we welcome – as a responsible land owner the MOD will want to be as open and accountable as it can".

--------Ends --------

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. RAF Fylingdales is a joint Ministry of Defence and US Military Ballistic Missile Early Warning System. As part of the US proposals for the National Missile Defence system Fylingdales could face a major development. Government policy on major development in National Parks is that they should not take place unless there are exceptional circumstances (PPG7).
3. The Planning Green Paper (December 2001) states that the Government proposes to remove crown immunity from planning control, subject to safeguards to protect the national interest.

Contact: Emma Loat 020 7924 4077 ext 221
Senior Policy and Communications Officer
Council for National Parks

The building of a new road in the complex, changes to the access road and the installation of an additional, razorwire perimeter fence have been condemned by the National Parks watchdog.

Vicki Elcoate, director of the Council for National Parks (CNP), said: "There have been many concerns about plans to upgrade Fylingdales for the US 'son of Star Wars' missile system. This incident has heightened concerns that Fylingdales could be developed by the back door, without proper public scrutiny."

The Defence minister Lewis Moonie and CNP had a weekend meeting after the National Park Authority was informed of the changes. The new road drains on to a site of special scientific interest and work has been stopped, leaving the road incomplete. Necessary notification of the proposed work must now be given retrospectively.

The veteran activist Lindis Percy, who was at the perimeter fence for five hours undetected two days ago, has also seen a deep trench outside it.

Ms Percy and other activists regularly examine planning applications to the National Park to guard against "quiet" improvements to the secretive base, the centre of which is a 32m-high irregular pyramid no British minister has entered.

The MoD said planning procedures had been "unintentionally overlooked" while "a number of measures to improve security at the base" were being made. But activists have been saying for some weeks that preparations for Fylingdales' role in Star Wars - said to include a 14-storey building - may be made on the basis of security because of the 11 September attacks.

"This is what we have been seeing at Lakenheath [RAF base in Suffolk] since 11 September," Ms Percy said. "Public footpaths and a road have been closed there in the name of security."

Last year, Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, made a commitment to adhering to the local planning system at such bases, except when national security was at risk.

This erodes the ability of the MoD to use Crown immunity to steamroller local planning inspectors, but the Government is also expected to issue a consultative paper on the removal of all Crown immunity this spring.

The Council for National Parks said the construction of an access road and an increase in the height of the perimeter fence had taken place without planning approval from the North York Moors National Park.

And campaigners warned that the road construction could be the forerunner of secret moves to turn Fylingdales into a key link in President Bush's Son of Star Wars missile defence system.

Civil servants last night admitted that the Ministry of Defence had made a planning gaffe by not seeking the necessary permissions from the National Park authority. There are fears that the drainage from the road may affect a nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Senior Council for National Parks (CNP) officials were briefed about the blunder by the Defence Minister, Dr Lewis Moonie, yesterday who confirmed that he only found out about the mistake this week. Dr Moonie reassured the CNP that the MoD would now be carrying out an environmental impact assessment and asking the Park authority for retrospective permission.

The measures were designed to strengthen security at the base after the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York.

CNP director Vicki Elcoate said: "There have been many concerns about plans to upgrade Fylingdales for the United States' 'Son of Star Wars' missile system. This incident has heightened concerns that Fylingdales could be developed by the back door, without proper public scrutiny. However, the Minister has provided reassurances and said this won't happen again - which is very welcome."

The North York Moors National Park - which is the planning authority - has confirmed that it will be considering an application for retrospective planning permission for the development. It emerged last night that the Park had been alerted about the road construction by a member of the public.

Ms Elcoate added: "It's important that the Ministry of Defence follows the proper procedures, especially in a sensitive area like a National Park. The Government is planning a change in the law so military developments are brought fully into the planning system. That's something we welcome - as a responsible land owner the MoD will want to be as open and accountable as it can."

An MoD spokesman said: "While carrying out a number of measures to improve security at the base, the need to follow proper planning procedures was unintentionally overlooked. Every effort is now being made to rectify the matter in line with the local planning authority and environmental agencies."