A PUBLIC inquiry into the case for footpaths leading to Vixen Tor on Dartmoor to be designated as Public Rights of Way (PRoW) has been rescheduled for next week.

Access to the tor near Merrivale was removed in 2003 following a change in land ownership.

Prior to 2003, climbers and walkers had enjoyed access to the Tor for several decades. The area around the crag was provisionally mapped as Open Access land under the CRoW Act (2000), but the landowner contested this and won her appeal during a public inquiry in 2005.

Since then, various parties, including the British Mountaineering Council, The Ramblers and Dartmoor National Park Authority, have tried to negotiate an access agreement, so far unsuccessfully.

The Ramblers and the BMC campaigned for the footpaths leading to the tor to be designated as PRoW. Devon County Council considered the evidence and recommended the Definitive Map should be modified to this effect.

The landowner appealed against the decision, and the case was heard at another planning inspectorate public inquiry last November. However, there was not adequate time to hear all evidence so the inspectorate scheduled additional dates in December 2010.

These were then cancelled due to adverse weather— the new dates have now been agreed for July 19 and 20.

Members of the public are able to attend the inquiry, which starts at 10am in Princetown Village Centre.