THE MINISTRY of Defence is reviewing its training needs on Dartmoor which could spell an end to live firing on two of the High Moor?s beauty spots.
Year-round access for walkers and tourists could be guaranteed following the review which has long been called for by conservationists who feel the national park should not be used for Army exercises.
Public access is currently guaranteed on the northern part of the moor on 248 days of the year ? by its agreement with owners of the site, the Duchy of Cornwall, the Army is not allowed to fire in April, May, July, August or the first half of September.
But campaigners want the peaks of Yes Tor and High Willhays ? the highest point in Southern England ? to remain accessible for 365 days of the year. Walks up the two tors are among the most popular on the moor.
The military have been training on Dartmoor for more than 200 years and the MoD has long argued that live firing exercises on the moor are an essential part of training Britain?s armed forces.
Ranges are divided into three ? Merrivale, Willsworthy and Okehampton, the last of which includes Yes Tor and High Willhays.
Commandant of the Dartmoor Training Area Lt Col Tony Clark confirmed that the review followed a request from the Dartmoor Preservation Association to the Duchy of Cornwall.
He said he could not comment on the issue until the review was complete but ?all the factors? would be considered.
Among these are expected to be the difficulty of moving the range boundary to exclude the two tors, the moor?s amenity value to the public and military value to the forces and conservation issues.
The decision to hold a review has been welcomed by Dartmoor Preservation Association member Hugh Robinson who said the organisation was willing to put up with ?dry? training which did not involve the use of live ammunition.
?These are the highest peaks in Southern England and it would be a good gesture on someone?s part to cease live firing there,? he said.