MEMBERS of Dartmoor National Park Authority have instructed the chief executive to discuss with the owners of Vixen Tor the circumstances under which they might agree to public access being permitted. The move follows a successful planning inspectorate appeal by owner Mary Alford meaning the tor should not be marked as open access under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. The inspector at the appeal determined that the vegetation at Vixen Tor Farm in the area containing the tor did not meet the criteria for inclusion of the land on the Conclusive Maps of Open Country. This meant the land could legitimately remain closed to the public and that the new right of access on foot to open country would not apply to the land. A spokesman for Dartmoor National Park Authority said the owners had indicated they were willing to talk. He said: ?The authority has traditionally followed a voluntary approach to securing and managing public access on Dartmoor and members considered that such an arrangement at Vixen Tor had potential benefits to all parties.? Members of the authority welcomed the inspector?s decision relating to Merrivale Newtake, where the appeal was dismissed, and will be working with the owner to manage public access to the land when the new right of access commences later this year.