THE concerns of farming on the moor were brought to light in a meeting between the Dartmoor Commoners Committee and MP for West Devon and Torridge, Geoffrey Cox last week.

Mr Cox met with the committee in a meeting at the farm of committee member Leyland Branfield, to discuss the issues affecting farming on the moor.

He was given a detailed presentation of the chief concerns of farming families on Dartmoor, including the low stocking levels imposed by Natural England, the lower farm payments, and delays and uncertainty in the administration of the payments system.

The MP was told that the number of farmers on Dartmoor was reducing at such a rate that few might remain in ten years time unless some of these factors were reversed.

Mr Cox said: 'The tradition and value to the moor and to local communities of Moorland farming is so important that it is essential the Commoners' message is heard in Westminster and Whitehall.

'I shall ensure that ministers do hear it along with Natural England, whose executives I shall be meeting in the near future.'