ARCHIVE - Key decisions made on backpack camping

It has been difficult not to notice the public scrutiny focused on the National Park these last few weeks. The issue of the High Court ruling on backpack camping has been high on the agenda of everyone from Authority Members and landowners to campaigners, the media and politicians. 

Throughout, what has stood out has been the collective effort from all of those who care for Dartmoor to work together positively, regardless of where they stand on the issue.  

A good demonstration of this was seen at the January Authority meeting where Members met to agree key decisions on backpack camping. 

At that meeting, representatives of different organisations spoke publicly and passionately for what they believed in. We’re grateful to those people for taking the time to make their views known so Members could take them into account. 

The outcome was four-fold. Members agreed to: 

•  Seek permission to appeal the High Court judgment •    Endorse the new permissive system, agreed in principle with the Dartmoor Commons’ Owners Association•    Investigate which areas of common land owned by the Authority could be opened up to backpack camping•    Pause work on the byelaw review so the implications of High Court judgment can be fully considered. 

We are unlikely to know the outcome of the application to appeal for some time. Whatever the outcome, we’re committed to working with landowners and other stakeholders to ensure the new permissive system operates well; for them, for us and for those who want to experience the joys of true backpack camping.  

I would like to echo comments by Chief Executive Dr Kevin Bishop for how grateful we are to commons landowners who are supporting the permissive system. In particular John Howell, Chair of the Dartmoor Commons Owners’ Association, has played a key role in representing association members and developing the system. 

I’d like to add my own thanks to common landowners for their input and for working with us, so something is in place that allows people to backpack camp in certain areas without needing to seek the prior approval of the landowner.  

It follows that people may ask: if this system is in place, why pursue an appeal? It is a fair question. For the Authority, it’s a case of seeking to strike a balance between different – sometimes competing – requirements. The judgment raises important issues of public interest that are central to the purpose of our National Parks and it is for this reason that Members agreed to seek permission to appeal. 

We have long promoted the true ethos of backpack camping; that is, to carry everything in your backpack, stay one or two nights maximum and leave no trace of a visit. We’ve reiterated that pledge to ensure people understand what backpack camping is and how it should be done. All the information is on the dedicated camping pages on our website. 

From 6th February – 27th March we’re consulting on our draft housing supplementary planning document which deals with topics such as how to define and identify local housing need, affordable housing and housing for rural workers etc. To take part, including a virtual drop-in on 23rd February, visit our website (dartmoor.gov.uk).