THE tranquillity of the North York Moors National Park is at risk as a result of it being used for Apache helicopter training, a senior park officer has warned.

David Walker, policy manager for the park authority, says the Ministry of Defence has set up a training base for the helicopters at Dishforth Airfield, near Thirsk, and has now pinpointed potential areas for low level flying, including the northern part of the park.

As a result, he says in a report to the authority's members, there are "serious concerns" about the likely impact of the training on farming and livestock, the tourist industry, the quality of life of residents, conflict with the park's "special qualities" - especially its tranquillity, and visitor and resident recreation in the park.

As a result, the authority is being recommended at its meeting on Monday to ask the MoD to fully assess the impact of a helicopter training zone in the park, and to express regret at reports that it is going ahead without the authority being consulted.

Members are also seeking assurances that no training activities will go ahead in the park prior to the results of an environmental assessment being made.

It will also tell the ministry that if the assessment results show the training will have a "significant negative impact" on the park, then it would be opposed, unless it could be shown there are no alternative suitable sites.

Mr Walker says the MoD has appointed W S P Atkins, a leading firm of consultants, to carry out the assessment.

"There is a clear need for the park authority to take a strong line in ensuring that due process is followed in respect of Apache helicopter training", he says, adding that there have already been unconfirmed reports of flights being under way.

The park's chief executive, Andy Wilson, has written to the MoD outlining the worries, but so far there has been no reply. As a result park officers believe that no authorised use has been given for Apache training.

"Any assessment of impact needs to start from the premise that this represents the introduction of a new defence use within the park," adds Mr Walker.

The MoD has said that Dishforth is expected to accommodate 16 aircraft in total, operating within the flying areas local to the airfield. The nature of training includes day and night sorties, Apache helicopter transit to and from training zones, and hovering.

Aircraft would hover as low as 50ft in certain areas, says Mr Walker, but it would be restricted to the shortest period possible - ten minutes.

A campaign against similar low-flying Apaches has been set up by residents living near Grewelthorpe, after several horses bolted after MoD helicopters flew low over smallholdings