ANOTHER giant golfball looks set to be built at the controversial Menwith Hill listening station - despite major concerns.

Otley campaigners claim the new radome could dwarf the other 29 golf balls on the site and may be the largest in the world.

And they are dismayed that Harrogate Borough Council this week chose to raise no objection to the plan.

Campaigners, including the Menwith Hill Forum and a womens' peace group, fear the base, used by the US Department of Defense, is increasingly becoming a target for anti-American terrorists, and claim a study should be carried out into the health implications of electro-magnetic radiation.

They also argued the new radome will be a blot on the landscape.

Protester Helen John, of Otley, said the decision had serious implications for local democracy, which she described as 'absolutely terrifying'.

She said: "Are these people looking after the interests of the people, or since September 11, is a public service slavishly following what concerns the interests of the US?

"We understand the role of the MOD, but we are looking at people here who are living with part of the community they serve and they should be taking a stronger line in exposing and searching for answers about the real reasons for these bases."

She claims the base's technology is ageing, and may not protect it against an attack.

Harrogate Borough Council planning officers said on Monday that they had no objections to 22 metre radome, as it would be standing between two similar radomes on the base.

The council does not have the authority to determine the application, but was required to be consulted.

Menwith Hill Forum also lodged objections with Harrogate Council.

Forum chairman John Eveleigh fears the towns and villages in the area would be in danger if terrorists or a hostile nation launched an attack on Menwith Hill.

An official objection from the forum, said: "Above all, the forum is concerned that in this highly sensitive international situation, after the terrorist attacks in the United States, the creation of another radome will inevitably increase the risk of a similar attack on the base, threatening lives both on the base and in the wider community."

The forum called for a study on the effects of radio waves and electro-magnetic radiation from the base on the health of nearby residents.

Protester Anne Lee, of WoMenwith Hill Women's Peace Campaign called for a public inquiry into the plan.

"The Harrogate Borough Council is not mandated to make any decision which could endanger the people it is elected to serve," she said.

Ms John added greater numbers of people must object to the expansion of Menwith Hill. She believes many would-be objectors have become disillusioned, after a 100-strong objection to a previous plan also failed to win Harrogate Council's support.

A Harrogate Council spokeswoman said it had received 24 letters of objection.

She said: "It was delegated to head planning services in consultation with the area sub-committee chairman, and the decision was that we had no objections. The decision taken has accepted that there is no significant impact, as the proposed radome is situated between two existing radomes."

The council recently said it had no objections to a plan for security fencing, parking and other facilities.

She said determination of the plan is now with the Ministry of Defence. A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said that they have not yet got official approval for the plans.