Smack the pony

The Dartmoor National Park Authority is one of those organisations that probably doesn't get the press it deserves - in that it hardly gets any press at all, which is probably how the authority likes it.

On Friday the authority's Development Management Committee has to consider, for the first time, a planning application by the Secretary of State for Defence to use more than 2,000 acres of Cramber Tor for military training for an indefinite period - the application is for "40,000 man-training days" in any one year.

The planning officer's report makes this interesting observation: "Following the removal of Crown Immunity for most planning purposes for the Ministry of Defence this application represents the first time that formal planning permission has been applied for the use of part of the National Park for military training purposes."  The land is question is "848ha of land located in the south west of the National Park, to the south of Princetown and immediately to the east of Burrator Reservoir."

Objectors include the Dartmoor Preservation Association, The Open Spaces Society and the Ramblers' Association.  English Heritage, English Nature and assorted archaeological professionals have some concerns, but stop short of outright objection.  The Duchy of Cornwall, without obvious irony, says: "We do not wish to make any comments. Thank you for keeping us informed."

Given that National Park status is supposed to afford the highest level of protection to any landscape, and "the need to ensure that the special qualities of the National Park are not prejudiced," you might think it odd that the officers' recommendation is that the planning application should be approved, subject to some conditions, eg "No training to take place on Sundays, public holidays and during the month of August."  Whizzbangs only on Saturdays, and not too many helicopters, please.  I'm not making this up.  You can read the report here.