RYEDALE councillors have rejected calls for a public inquiry into planned changes at RAF Fylingdales, but have called on the Government to monitor health issues which might result from the upgrading for the so-called 'Son of Star Wars' project.

Coun Helen Schroeder (Lib Dem), who is also chairman of the North York Moors National Park Authority, told the district council that the park's development committee had decided that because there was no material change of use planned at the station, planning permission was not needed for the changes.

She said she had been involved in lengthy discussions with the Ministy of Defence on RAF Fylingdales.

The station, she added, is a major employer.

She told councillors that some opposition to the station was "ill-conceived and ill- informed", but she said it was now conceded by the MoD and others that the station would not have been built in its present position if permission were being sought today.

Under the proposed changes to the station, light pollution from the station would be reduced by 75pc, she said. The health threat was a perceived issue, said Coun Schroeder.

"To me, the benefits of Fylingdales have always been debatable," she said, but it appeared they would all be for the United States.

A public inquiry would not be in the public interest. "We have to live in the real world," she said.

Coun John Raper (Con) said the station was needed to give people in Britain protection and the changes at the station merely involved updating computer equipment.

Coun Keith Knaggs (Con) said the national park and Ryedale council had to work together on the issue of Fylingdales. "Ryedale is part of Britain - it can't have its own defence policy," he added.

Coun John Clark (Lib), who failed in a bid to have council establish a public inquiry, said "This is a very good time to look at Fylingdales to see if it is still needed.

"We need to know what the health impacts are, what the likelihood is of a terrorist attack and the costs to the economy, environment and health of Ryedale."

The council agreed after a long debate that it recognised the right of central Government to make military decisions in the interests of the defence of the country, though in a democracy there was a need for participation.

It also backed a resolution, approved by the national park authority on Fylingdales, that:

Following any upgrade, there should be monitoring of the radio frequency by independent consultants around the station for the MoD and made public.

Close attention should be paid by the Government to the outcome of work being carried out in the USA concerning health issues at Cape Cod, USA.

A long-term study should be carried out to ascertain if there are any clusters of diseases which might be attributable to the presence of radar, to be funded from national resources.

Updated: 11:19 Wednesday, November 12, 2003