THE decision not to use disinfectant mats on approach roads to Dartmoor has angered agencies keen to do all they can to stop foot and mouth disease spreading, writes Jane Honey.

Cherry Seage, secretary of Dartmoor Commoners' Council, said members want the mats put down by the county council to minimise the risk of spreading the disease onto the moor.

She said it was 'frustrating' that MAFF vets have told commoners the mats are 'a good idea' — but the highways department will not give the go ahead until MAFF officials recommend it.

Mrs Seage said: 'We have to treat Dartmoor and the commons as one big open farm.

'The simple application of putting down disinfectant mats is known to kill the virus — if nothing else it would raise the profile of the problem.

'Dartmoor National Park Authority are very much for it, I am sure the Duchy would be in support of it, but we are banging our heads against a brick wall.'

Nick Payne, environmental chief at West Devon Borough Council, said: 'Certainly everyone locally wants this to happen. It seems very unfortunate that this fairly simple but very high profile measure can't be put in place by the county because of a need for a specific recommendation from MAFF.'

Mr Payne said he had consistently made approaches to the police, the county council and to MAFF officials since the outbreak began.

John Weir, spokesman for Dartmoor National Park Authority, said: 'Nobody has persuaded us either way which is the best course of action to take. Clearly, if things escalate, the whole issue will have to be revisited.'

But Peter Doyle, county council spokesman, was adamant that placing disinfectant mats on approach roads to Dartmoor could even be counter-productive.

'The disinfectant doesn't get up under the wheel arches — if you have it, it's in the car, on your boots. Friction on the road will effectively kill off the virus on the tyres.

'It's a much better message to say keep off the moors.'

The key defences in the fight against the disease were proper disinfectant regimes at the farm-gate, keeping motorists' journeys to a minimum, away from risk areas, said Mr Doyle.

He said the council was monitoring the situation with MAFF but mats would only be used if specifically requested by them.

A spokesman for MAFF said the decision was entirely up to the council.