Competition And Conflict Over

Competition and conflict overthe use of a resource

Conflict case study

• At a local scale, a study of conflict over the use of a resource in one area,

involving:• attitudes of different groups of people to the use

of the resource;• the way market processes and/or planning

processes operate to resolve the conflict;• recognition that some people benefit, and others

may lose, when the conflict over the resource is resolved.

Who might want to use this area?

BBC clip April 08

• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7366038.stm

Timeline 1

• In May 2003 it was announced that the owner of the land on which Vixen tor stands had closed all access to the famous landmark. Although for the past 30 years the land was held in private ownership there had always been an access agreement. The new owner, Mrs Alford, said there was no legal public right of access to the site and that she has been advised by her insurance company to close it as she could be liable if anyone injured themselves while walking or climbing. This very soon had various representative bodies such as The Ramblers Association and The British Mountaineering Council up in arms and various campaigns were launched.

Timeline 2• Over the next two years various protests and 'mass trespasses'

were organised to bring the issue to the media's attention. The first official protest was organised by the British Mountaineering Council and it took place on January 1st 2004 where a 'mass trespass' of 20 people took place.

• In June 2004 a District Judge at Plymouth Magistrates' Court found that the landowner had failed to obtain a consent under the Regulations before engaging in scrub clearance and the application of fertiliser (calcified seaweed and farmyard manure) on four fields of unimproved grassland around Vixen Tor. The landowner was fined £1,000 and £5,000 costs. DEFRA will now move towards ensuring the reinstatement of this land. In May 2005 this then went to the High Court of Appeal where two senior judges overturned the ruling.

Timeline 3

• In January 2005 a public inquiry in fact found it to be farmland on the basis of the grass percentage of the total flora. The inspectors did note that it was a very close decision but it meant that as it was classed as farmland it came outside the open access land and was allowed to be closed. The Ramblers Association objected to the appeal by Mrs Mary Alford and her son Daniel and were joined by the Open Spaces Society, the Dartmoor Preservation Association, the British Mountaineering Council, and the Countryside Agency, which were responsible for mapping the land. But despite this finding it was decreed that the landowner still had the right to deny access to the tor.

Timeline 4• Mrs Alford was also the subject of an assault in May 2005. A

spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that officers were called to the tor and a result, a 24-year-old man from Tavistock received a caution for common assault when he had clashed with Mrs Alford, who fell off a wall during a demonstration against the inspector's decision

• In September 2005 another 'mass trespass' of 80 walkers and climbers took place. Some of the latter climbed the tor and unfurled a banner which read, Vixen Tor for all to enjoy".  It was then alleged by members of the British Mountaineering Council that during a climb one of the ropes were cut and one man was assaulted. The police were called and it was requested that charges were brought, these were later dropped.

Timeline 5

• In January 2006 yet another 'mass trespass' was organised for New Year's day to continue the pressure for the land to be re-opened. This was none too successful as when the protesters arrived they found that the landowner was holding a clay pigeon shoot and barbeque and it was deemed too dangerous to proceed.

• It then appears that Mrs Alford decided that for a one-off payment of £30,000, followed by an annual payment of £35,000 plus insurance and legal costs she would open the land under a ten year agreement. The Dartmoor National Park Authority had offered an annual payment of £1,500.

Public Inquiry findings• Clarification of access at Vixen Tor after the Public Inquiry and proposed talks

about future access.• At the meeting held on 4 March 2005, Members of the Dartmoor National Park

Authority considered the outcome of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Section 6(3) appeals relating to Merrivale Newtake and land at Vixen Tor Farm.  They welcomed the dismissal of the appeal relating to Merrivale Newtake and look forward to working with the owner to manage public access to this land when the new right of access commences later this year.

• The Inspector determined that the vegetation in Field 7 at Vixen Tor Farm, (the one which contains Vixen Tor itself), does not meet the criteria for inclusion of the land on the Conclusive Maps of Open Country.  This means that the land legitimately remains closed to the public, and that the new right of access on foot to open country, will definitely not apply to this land.  

• Nevertheless, Authority Members recognised that many members of the public still regard Vixen Tor as a special Dartmoor landmark, to which they would like access.  Accordingly, Members instructed the Chief Executive (National Park Officer) to discuss with the owners, the circumstances under which they might agree to public access being permitted and the owners have since indicated that they are willing to talk.  The Authority has traditionally followed a voluntary approach to securing and managing public access on Dartmoor and Members considered that such an arrangement at Vixen Tor had potential benefits to all parties.

Links• Vixen Tor access inquiry begins Monday, 24 January, 2005 • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/4202855.stm• Tor owner charged Sunday, 7 December, 2003• http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/3298141.stm• Ramblers protest at tor Thursday, 1 January, 2004 • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/3361143.stm• Owner fined for tor cultivation Thursday, 10 June, 2004 • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/3791441.stm• Tor owner using Madonna verdict Tuesday, 10 August, 2004 • http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/3551776.stm• Ramblers Association Campaign• http://www.ramblers.org.uk/freedom/improvingaccess/vixentor.htm• BMC Vixen latest 14/06/07• http://www.thebmc.co.uk/News.aspx?id=1944

Roleplay Activity

• Describe the conflict• Describe and explain the different viewpoints in

terms of use of the resource (The Tor)• Describe and explain the different processes

that have occurred to try and resolve the conflict• Describe the current situation and who are the

winners/losers in the conflict and what the future holds