OPENING shots have been fired in a public inquiry fight by a group of woodland dwellers in Teignbridge to save themselves from eviction.

Eco-residents of the Steward Wood Community (SWC) descended on Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Parke headquarters outside Bovey Tracey this morning to argue their case against being refused planning permission for making their 32-acre home outside Moretonhampstead more permanent.

The legal tussle is expected to last at least three days with the inquiry inspector Paul Freer conceding that he may be hard-pressed to complete the bout in the appointed time.

A spokesman for DNPA said before today’s 10am start to the proceedings: ‘We will always take action against unauthorised residential developments with the national park, to protect and conserve the special qualities of the national park as we are charged to do under the 1995 Environment Act.’

The authority claims low impact dwellings granted temporary permission have been replaced by larger structures - and this amounts to unauthorised housing development.

It insists that no case has been made for the need to permanently live on the land to manage the woodland and host educational courses.

A string of witnesses in support of the venture - established 16 years ago - lined up to heap plaudits on the permaculture project.

Aaron Custance, who ran the Proper Job recycling project in Chagford for seven years, revealed how he originally suspected the group of being a bunch of travellers moving in to ‘trash the place.’

His scepticism switched to support over the years as he found the inhabitants to be social, moral people with a genuine respect for nature and their surroundings.

Simeon Warburton, of the Land Matters Permaculture Project in Blackawton, said the occupants of the site had changed the lives of many people for the better. His young daughter pleaded with the authority not make her best friend homeless.

‘I would hate it if anyone asked me to leave my house. I love it. I’m sure she loves hers too,’ she said.

Jules Smith, from Silent Haven in Okehampton, said of the woodland initiative: ‘This is a positive and valuable solution to the global crisis. It needs to be supported in every way possible. They are doing an extraordinary job.’

Miranda Warburton chipped in: ‘They are fighting a fight to walk with nature. That’s what we should all be doing. They are a national heritage. They are doing really important work - and we should support them in their quest.’

Design engineer Robert Vincent said the world was changing and the rules which govern it were changing, something which perhaps DNPA would be wise to acknowledge in their dealings with SWC.

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The two parties then adjourned the inquiry for a few hours to allow the inspector to visit the contentious site.