JOHN Dance and a host of supporters are teeing off another attempt to get consent for change of use from an informal golf course to public use at Reddacleave Brakes, Reddacleave Farm, Dean Prior, writes John Balment.

After a decade of unsuccessful battles with Dartmoor National Park Authority to win permission for the course, on which many charity events have been staged, Mr Dance finally succumbed to an enforcement notice to close on January 4.

This week he submitted a new application to the authority to reopen the golf course and he is hoping the development management committee will hold a site visit to see the course for itself.

'In all the applications I have made, not once have they been out to see the course. It is not a Stover or Wentworth. We all agree it is a wild course and nothing like a commercial one.

'When we closed on January 4, that was to be it, other than family and friends playing, which we are quite entitled to do.

'But I was staggered by the amount of public support for it and I decided to apply again,' said Mr Dance.

This time, as well as a huge public backing he has the support of Ugborough, South Brent, Rattery and Dean Prior Parish Councils, and Buckfastleigh Town Council.

Totnes MP Anthony Steen has also written to Kevin Bishop, the DNPA chief executive, asking to meet him on site.

Mr Dance said he was keeping his fingers crossed that common sense would at last prevail.

'This time the planning permission I have asked for starts and ends with me,' he said.

He added that his family and friends had decided not to play on the course since January 4, because they all felt that would be unfair in the circumstances.