Cruise Missile Convoys From The Molesworth Base Could Be On The Region's Roads By The End Of Next Year

Official update on plans for US missiles in East Anglia, and response from CND.

Anglia TV reporter Greg Barnes attends a press conference called by the Ministry of Defence and US Air Force. This provides an update on major work to prepare for the siting of cruise missiles at Molesworth air base but does not answer questions about future deployment of cruise missiles at the base and military exercises on public roads. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) has claimed that cruise missile control vehicles have been seen entering the base. Christopher Saunders of the Ministry of Defence says there will be a continuing build-up of equipment on the base but will provide no detail. Scenes of the barbed wire fencing surrounding Molesworth air base with the sounds of heavy equipment and skylarks. Asked about the effect the current arms talks might have on the developments at Molesworth, Christopher Saunders says we must all hope for a successful outcome for the talks, but in the meantime the missile deployment programme will continue. More scenes of security around the base perimeter. The reporter speculates on when the 4 flights each equipped with 16 missiles might arrive and training exercises begin ahead of 1988 when the missiles will be fully operational. Interview with Col Kent Harbaugh, Commander 303rd Tactical Missile Wing, USAF with responsibility at Molesworth. He says it is US policy not to confirm or deny the presence of nuclear weapons. Asked what reassurance he can give the local population about the presence of missiles on public roads, he says that missiles would not be on the roads in peacetime except when moved to the depot for maintenance. He mentions vehicles of the same weight and dimensions as those used to carry missiles used for driver training purposes. At a press conference held by CND, their Chair Paul Johns is addressing the room next to a map of the East of England region. The reporter says that a list was presented of 8 Ministry of Defence sites across the region considered likely to be used for training exercises with missile convoys. They include Stanford Battle Area in Norfolk, Debden in Essex, Yardley Chase in Northamptonshire, Oakington and Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire and Barham in Suffolk. The press conference also reported on 24-hour surveillance by Cruise Watch Network at Molesworth and the command centre at RAF Alconbury. Shannon Smith, Co-ordinator of Molesworth Action Group, describes how watchers near the bases and further away might detect changes in activity at Molesworth including increase in police numbers. The reporter ends by saying despite the efforts of protesters, they have had little effect on work at the Molesworth base which continues on schedule. This short video was made to be shown in a news story on Anglia Television early evening news / magazine programme About Anglia.

Keywords

Nuclear weapons; Cruise missiles; Molesworth air base; Protests; Campaigning