DARTMOOR National Park Authority has made it clear it will not be held to ransom about the public access to the privately-owned Vixen Tor. Owner Mary Alford has angered ramblers and Dartmoor groups by refusing access to one of the best known landmarks on the moorland. She paid £31,000 for the land and wants the authority to cough up £30,000 plus £35,000 and insurance payments annually for 10 years for the privilege of opening it up, and that would amount to £400,000, the authority's meeting was told on Friday. That, says the Authority, is too much. It has offered E M Alford and Son £1,500 per annum for a 10-year access agreement after lengthy talks. National Park officer Nick Atkinson said the gulf of aspiration was so great 'meaningful progress' had not been made, agreement was unlikely and that there was no justification for further talks. 'We have had discussions over the past year. In practical terms we welcome the owner's willingness to discuss. In practical terms we cannot come to an arrangement. 'It is the financial gulf between what we have offered to date and what the owner is asking,' he said. Mr T Smale said the authority was facing a shortfall in its budget and he could not support a high level of investment for Vixen Tor and he believed £1,500 a year was sensible. Stuart Barker said it was strange that the DNP was ordered to carry out rights of way exercises for the government, who then reduced its budget. If the authority paid what the owner was asking for Vixen Tor, Mr Barker feared it would set a precedent. 'It is a step too far,' he stated. Members agreed that if the offer could not be concluded after the meeting then Dr Atkinson should obtain counsel's opinion on the extent of any further options available.
