Ash Moor: Cost several million pounds but was never used

Two years after the disease hit the British countryside the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has agreed to remove the access roads and recreate grassland, hedgerows and woodland around the Ash Moor burial pit.

The pit, near Petrockstowe, was built by the government at a cost of several million pounds in 2001 as a foot and mouth burial site but was never used.

But Ron Dawson, Chairman of Stop The Ash Moor Pit (STAMP) says the deal falls short of what the group hoped for.

A wonderful opportunity is going to be missed Ron Dawson, STAMP

"Its previous condition had with it a management plan to enhance nature conservation," said Mr Dawson.

"What's actually happening down there is they are going recreate something similar but without that enhancement.

"Britain has obligations to promote the furtherment of nature conservation and that's not going to happen.

"A wonderful opportunity is going to be missed."

But the agreed restoration scheme does meet the conditions set by Devon County Council's development committee back in April, 2001 when it was belatedly consulted by the then Ministry of Agriculture on the construction of the pit.

Development control chairman Councillor John Clatworthy said: "It is excellent that the concerns of English Nature, the Environment Agency and the Devon Wildlife Trust have been satisfied and the restoration works are now in hand."

Defra will continue to own the site for the next five years and will encourage any future owner to manage the site in an appropriate way for culm grasslands.