WEST Devon police are requesting extra cover ahead of this weekend?s protest at Vixen Tor which is expected to attract a large crowd of climbers and walkers. Organisers are angered that access to the tor at Merrivale has not been allowed in the new right to roam legislation despite it being a popular climbing site for the past 30 years. Access to the tor has been denied by its present owner Mary Alford because of fears she may be sued if someone falls or injures themselves on her land. It has been the subject of a bitter fight since it was closed to climbers, ramblers and sightseers in May 2003. One of the key organisers Steve Finlay from Bristol said Saturday?s protest, beginning at 10am, would be a peaceful one: ?It is to highlight the situation where someone has bought the land and denied access to land that people have been using for years for climbing, picnicing and walking,? he said. He said the situation had been exacerbated by an incident last week when ropes had allegedly been cut whilst two people had been climbing the tor. ?Vixen Tor is one of the best climbing areas on Dartmoor ? it is a superb place and many people would like to regain access to it,? he said. ?It is very unreasonable that someone can buy it and quite arbitrarily keep it to themselves when it has been used by generations of people.? Mr Finlay said anyone was welcome to go along and protest in a ?very quiet and peaceful manner.? Inspector Kara Sherwood-Davies of West Devon Police confirmed that there had been one or two altercations in the past week at Vixen Tor. ?We are expecting between 50 and 100 people at the protest,? she said. ?We have asked for additional resources from outside the area because we do not have enough officers to contain the amount of people or prevent any potential disorder.? Mary Alford said previously permissive access had been allowed on Vixen Tor: ?It is not common land. We have been through all the legal procedures and this is private land which is deemed to stay private under the CROW (Countryside and Rights of Way) Act. ?Obviously these climbers and ramblers have a blatant disregard for people?s property.? Mrs Alford said she had to call the police in May when she was attacked by a climber.