THE Ministry of Defence has been given a five-month extension on its controversial license to use part of Dartmoor for military training.
Members of Dartmoor National Park Authority agreed at their meeting last week to extend the consent for Cramber Tor — 2,000 acres which includes South Hessary Tor, Combeshead Tor, Down Tor, Raddick Hill and wood — until the end of November. The current consent ran out on July 3.
The military has used the area south of Princetown for 'dry' training — not involving live ammunition — since 1980, despite considerable opposition.
The DNPA has demanded the MoD undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment before granting a further licence, but the MoD says the foot and mouth crisis has prevented it carrying out the study and asked DNPA for an extension.
Dartmoor chief planner Graham Wall said: 'While the period requested was longer than would ideally have been wished for, it was considered that any future decision should be based on the best possible information available.'