THE plight of businesses on Dartmoor, brought to a standstill by foot and mouth outbreaks, is being highlighted in a series of crisis meetings in Tavistock.
West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett last Thursday met hotel owners and representatives of Dartmoor Tourist Association to discuss the situation and try to organise a plan of action.
Mr Burnett said: 'Dartmoor tourism is just at a standstill — everything is sterilised until the moor is open.
'People come to Dartmoor, to the hotels, so they can walk on the moors.'
On Monday Mr Burnett asked Michael Meacher, leader of the Rural Task Force, to ensure the affected area boundaries were re-examined every week and to publish any reasons for change.
'He is going to do this, he realises the imperative nature of opening the moor, he realises it's a lifeline,' said Mr Burnett.
A further meeting will be held in Tavistock this Saturday, which Tim Jones of the Rural Task Force, Malcolm Bell of South West Tourism and David Rees of the Rural Development Agency will attend.
'We want to get funding for a huge PR campaign in readiness for when the moor is finally open,' said Mr Burnett.
Dartmoor hotel owners Philip Davies and Adam Southwell attended last week's meeting — this week, they are hoping for real support from the RDA.
Mr Davis said he had 'high hopes' that a Pay to Train scheme, for which money is already available, could be put in place to help employers and employees on Dartmoor.
And he paid tribute to the work carried out by John Burnett during the crisis: 'We are really pleased with the effort he has gone to and we thank him for opening all the doors for us. He's been ace, what he has done has been well beyond the call of duty.'