THE future of the controversial Ash Moor burial pit was discussed at a meeting in Petrockstowe last week, which drew more than 100 villagers.

The meeting in the Baxter Hall last Friday was orgnaised by Petrockstowe Parish Council in response to requests by parishioners.

Last month, Devon County Council agreed terms with DEFRA for the long-awaited restoration of the site.

Under the agreed scheme, DEFRA will retain ownership of Ash Moor for five years and will work to encourage any future owner manages the site to restore culm grassland.

Some residents would prefer to see the site handed over immediately to an environmental group such as the Devon Wildlife Trust.

Paul Gompertz, director of the Devon Wildlife Trust, has previously said the charity would be keen to be involved in the future of the site from the outset.

'If if were to be agreed at the end of the five years we were to take it over we would want someone to be involved in the restoration process.

'We don't want it to become just another nature reserve, it needs to embrace the history of agriculture in North Devon, so it would have an educational interest,' he said.

Joe Skinner, spokesman for pressure group STAMP —Stop the Ash Moor Pit — said the meeting was primarily for the residents of Petrockstowe and Meeth to be kept informed about the latest developments relating to the site. He said many expressed concerns about plans to develop the site and link it with the quiet village.

Mr Skinner said: 'It seemed the people who live near the pit did not want a memorial, they did not want access and an influx of tourists. Residents want it to go back as far as possible as it was before.'

No DEFRA official attended the meeting — but Roger Prescott of Halcrow — the consultants working to restore the site on behalf of the Government — attempted to reassure villagers about DEFRA's intentions. Mr Prescott said the Ministry had made it clear they had given written assurances that the site will never be used for mass burial.

The Ash Moor pit was built at the height of the foot and mouth crisis by DEFRA's predecessor MAFF but was never used.