A CAMPAIGN to save an historic Burrator building seems set to fail this week writes Alan Gregory.

Protesters fear the demolition of a 100-year-old corrugated iron store is the first step in the commercialisation of the beauty spot.

The application by South West Water to erect a new forestry building and demolish the iron store at Burrator reservoir is to be considered by Dartmoor National Park Authority tomorrow (Friday) and officers have recommended approval.

But the Dartmoor Preservation Association, Dartmoor Society and Action to Protect Dartmoor have all campaigned to preserve the building.

Dr Tom Greeves, chairman of the Dartmoor Society, said local people feared this development would open the way for a car park and further commercialisation of the area — the subject of massive

opposition in 1996.

'We find it unacceptable that SWW has not yet produced an integrated management plan for Burrator reservoir, and that the DNPA has not even requested one,' he said.

'Without this, the public perceives DNPA to be colluding with SWW in allowing the destruction of the store and thus opening the door for commercialisation of the area.'

Dr Greeves said both DNPA and SWW were failing in their responsibilities for cultural heritage, and were ignoring the opinion of not only the three groups, but also the DNPA's own archeologist and the country's top expert on corrugated iron.

'It will be another nail in the coffin for historically and socially important buildings on Dartmoor,' he said. 'This is not conservation but blind destruction. It could serve SWW well for another 100 years if properly maintained.'

Graham Ledger, chairman of Action to Protect Dartmoor, said it was a subtle and stealthy way of achieving commercialisation and John Bainbridge, chief executive of the Dartmoor Preservation Association, again challenged SWW to 'come clean' about its long-term plans on Dartmoor, particularly around Burrator.

'SWW are riding roughshod over Dartmoor National Park, neither listening to anyone else's opinion nor bearing in mind their obligations under the Environment Act 1995,' said Mr Bainbridge.

'They should come clean about their plans for Burrator. The interests of land conservation and quiet enjoyment should come before the fattening of SWW's corporate wallet.'

He demanded the DNPA committee take a tougher line with SWW by rejecting the proposals.

SWW said the iron store required so much work that it could not be considered economically viable. The time had now come to replace it with modern structure.

The company has already stated there were no plans to build any additional recreational facilities around the reservoir to attract more visitors and desired only to provide facilities at Burrator Lodge for existing visitors.

Dartmoor's assistant national park officer Graham Wall, in a report to members, said English Heritage had declined to list the 100-year-old structure, saying 'it was not considered to be of sufficient architectural or historic interest to merit listing'.

He also reported the results of an archeological evaluation commissioned by SWW, claiming there was no real evidence of the 18th century settlement of Mullicraft on the site and recommended the application be granted.

The committee meets to discuss the matter tomorrow in the Daw room at County Hall in Exeter. The meeting begins at 10.30am.