Dartmoor hopes for better times ahead

The decision to close Dartmoor hit tourism hard

By the BBC's Kevin Hay

The year 2001 was going to be a special year for Dartmoor.

A series of events had been planned to mark the 50th anniversary of its designation as a national park.

We expect the economic impact of the closure will be felt for months, if not years to come

Park Authority spokesman Mike Nendick

But five months ago the celebration plans turned sour as foot-and-mouth swept across Devon.

When a case was discovered right in the centre of Dartmoor the National Park Authority faced the biggest crisis in its history. It acted decisively, closing the entire 368 square miles to walkers.

Tourism suffers

The decision to close Dartmoor may well have been responsible for preventing foot-and-mouth from entering the wild deer, sheep and pony population but it also dealt a severe blow to the moor's tourist industry.

On Easter Bank Holiday, weekend trade at Dartmoor attractions, bed and breakfasts, hotels and village tea shops was down by between 95% and 100%.

No fresh cases of foot-and-mouth have been reported in Devon now for nearly a month.

Moorland animals were protected by foot-and-mouth restrictions

The southern half of Dartmoor has been re-opened to the public, but tourist numbers are still down by around 50%.

This weekend the rest of it will re-open, with the exception of a 3km zone around the park's only outbreak at Dunnabridge farm near Two Bridges.

The full re-opening of Dartmoor has already been postponed once because farmers said it was too soon to encourage visitors back.

Park Authority spokesman Mike Nendick said balancing the concerns of farmers with the needs of people in the tourist industry had been one of the hardest aspects of the crisis.

"It has been an unpleasant few months, clearly the concerns of everyone who lives and makes their livelihood on the moor has to be taken into consideration.

"We think that re opening the northern side of Dartmoor now is a safe and sensible move.

"Even so we expect the economic impact of the closure will be felt for months, if not years to come."

What should have been a time of celebration for the national park has turned out to be a year best forgotten

BBC's Kevin Hay

On neighbouring Exmoor the position is similar.

There are plans to lift many restrictions this weekend which will leave about two thirds of it open to walkers.

There, as on Dartmoor, pressure groups have been lobbying the government for cash to help compensate the tourist industry.

With the school holidays fast approaching the drive is on to attract tourists back into the South West, but the economic shadow cast by foot-and-mouth is long.

What should have been a time of celebration for the national park has turned out to be a year best forgotten.