AROUND 80 climbers and walkers staged a protest at Vixon Tor near Merrivale on Saturday, to demand the reinstatement of public access to one of Dartmoor?s most popular climbing spots. Protestors ignored the ?do not trespass signs?, barbed wire and tarred boulders aimed at deterring access to the tor. The tor was closed to the public in 2003 by current owner Mary Alford, but was frequently used by climbers and walkers for 30 years under the previous ownership. Once inside, campaigners held up a banner saying ?Vixen Tor for all to enjoy? then climbed the tor and picnicked at the site for most of the day. Police who attended the scene said the protest was peaceful and passed without incident. Sgt Bob Hughes, one of eight officers at the scene, said officers were present to ensure things did not get out of hand: ?The issue of private land is one of civil trepass which is not a police matter,? he said. Vixen Tor had been included in new right to roam legislation but this was contested by Mrs Alford, who won an appeal to keep it closed to the public. Protest organiser Steve Finlay from Bristol said said he was reasonably pleased with the turnout on Saturday: ?If we had had a bit longer to organise it more people would have come along ? but quite a lot of local people turned up which was good. ?We will keep campaigning to get access to the tor for anybody who wants to use the land in a responsible way. Our next plan is to start a petition locally and on the Web which we intend to hand into Dartmoor National Park Authority and the local MP,? he said. Mr Finlay said he was shocked by the damage that had been done with tar and spray paint on the boulders telling people to ?keep out?. ?It does not seem to be in keeping with the national park,? he said. Mrs Alford was not present at the demonstration but through her solicitors had appealed to organisers to exercise restraint and stay within the law. ?This land is part of a working stock farm and, like every other farmer, I have concerns for the safety of my animals and of the general public,? she said. ?A public inquiry earlier this year established that there is no general public right of access to the tor. ?There are many issues that I have to consider, not least the question of public liability and the potential risks to me and the unauthorised users of this land.?
