Dartmoor Tor Access Subject Of Inquiry

There's a bt of a kerfuffle over access to one of Dartmoor's classic Tors with a public inquiry currently looking into the situation.

Vixen Tor - have a look at the pics - near Merrivale - see map - was closed by its new owner in May 2003 after being bought by a local farmer, Mary Alford, on the basis that she might be liable for injuries suffered by walkers and climbers on the land. The previous owner had allowed access for around 30 years.

Last year Mrs Alford was reportedly prosecuted and fined for breaking environmental laws on the land around Vixen Tor after clearing scrub and spreading fertiliser, apparently in an attempt to convert the land to agricultural use and disqualify it from access under the CRoW Act - nice.

The Tor was due to be re-opened under the Right to Roam, but Mrs Alford has attempted to use the Human Rights Act to restrict access. Now the public inquiry is deciding whether the land should be re-opened with a decision expected by the end of February.

The interests of climbers are being represented at the Inquiry by the BMC and the Rambers Association.

Kate Conto, Head of Access at the Ramblers' Association, said, "We firmly believe that Vixen Tor and Merrivale Newtake qualify as access land, and should become accessible to the public once again when the 'right to roam' comes into effect in the South West this year. It would be a travesty if the mean spirit of one landowner was to deprive everyone of access to this beautiful part of our national heritage."

More details from this BBC news story and here on the Ramblers web site. Thanks to John Wood for pointing us in the right direction.