A DARTMOOR pressure group has expressed dismay at the Dartmoor National Park officers? recommendation not to object to Ministry of Defence plans to continue military training on Cramber Tor.

The recommendation, following consultation, to raise no objection to continued ?dry? training ? which does not involve live firing ? until 2012 will be considered by members of the planning committee tomorrow (Friday, January 3).

The Open Spaces Society submitted a joint letter of objection with the Dartmoor Preservation Association and the Ramblers? Association.

The Council for National Parks also objected along with more than 1,700 individuals.

The majority of these objections were in the form of a pre-printed postcard distributed by the DPA to its members to be sent to the Authority. Dartmoor National Park Authority received just three letters of support.

Kate Ashbrook, the Open Spaces Society?s general secretary and president of the Dartmoor Preservation Association, said the Society was ?dismayed? at the Authority?s recommendation.

?We feel totally let down by the Dartmoor National Park officers. We have never had a public inquiry into the military abuse of Cramber Tor, and we shall not get one unless the Dartmoor National Park Authority objects to the proposals now.

?It is grossly unfair that the public has never had the chance to test the military?s claims that it must occupy land in a national park,? she said.

?The military use of Cramber Tor, which includes the firing of blanks and pyrotechnics, attacks, helicopters and vehicles, leads to a destruction of the tranquility and loss of public enjoyment of this beautiful, wild area,? added Ms Ashbrook.

She said there needed to be an independent examination of the environmental damage to the moor caused by Army training.

Burrator Parish Council have registered no objection, but note concerns have been expressed by residents of Sheepstor about increased helicopter activity.

The planning officers? report states the defence use of Dartmoor makes a ?major contribution to the country?s defence capability and provides essential facilities which could not be easily replicated elsewhere.?

The report states: ?It can also be an important factor in contributing to the local economic and social well-being of National Park communities.?

The MoD?s application to renew the dry training licence was submitted with an environmental statement, and an evaluation of alternative sites, based on criteria relating to location, suitability, sustainability and availability, which ruled out any international alternative or areas in other parts of the UK.

Therefore, the MoD concluded there was a continuing need for Cramber Tor, to meet the armed forces? requirement for dry, tactical training.

The officers? report concludes: ?The recommendation is made on the basis that the proposal is neither an intensification of use, nor a major investment in new facilities, the continuing need has been proven, that relocation to the northern ranges is not desirable or feasible, and that the thoroughness of the environmental statement shows that, overall, the use results in no material harm to the qualities of this part of the National Park.?

The MoD?s request to continue dry training use for a further 20 years was deemed ?unacceptable? by the DNPA, who recommend a shorter time frame.

The planning officers? recommendation is for no objection to dry training continuing until 2012, but with a review, to consider the changing needs of the armed forces, in the first half of 2007.

The recommendation also suggests conditions, including no training to take place on Sundays, public holidays and during the month of August as well as ongoing monitoring of the impact of training on the moor.

The military has used the 2,000 acres of moorland south of Princetown and east of Burrator Reservoir for dry training since 1980.