Ancient sites torn up by off-road vandals

Submitted by PaulM on Tuesday, 19 April 2005 Page Views: 1969

Picturesque Westcountry sites dating back 2,000 years are being "deliberately damaged" by illegal off-road drivers, conservationists have claimed. Drivers who tear up the countryside have been warned that they could be fined up to £20,000 after they were blamed for a catalogue of destruction at wildlife and heritage sites East Dartmoor Woods and Heaths National Nature Reserve, near Bovey Tracey, South Devon.

Phil Page, site manager for English Nature, said he was "very annoyed" about the damage. He warned that anyone caught engaging in such acts of vandalism would be prosecuted.

The land includes two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and a Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM).

Mr Page said: "Off-road four by four drivers and scramblers are deliberately causing damage to the site. They have cut through barbed wire fences and smashed wooden barriers.

"Cattle kept on Trendlebere Down Common have escaped through these gaps, making extra and unnecessary work for the local farmers.

"It's so sad that these people apparently have no respect for our heritage and surroundings."

Mr Page said motorcyclists were also to blame. "They have been riding illegally across land belonging to English Nature and the Woodland Trust in order to scramble over a 2,000-year-old Iron Age hill fort, which has been seriously damaged by their thoughtless activities."

Andy Crabb, field monument warden for English Heritage, said the fort in Houndtor Wood was an ancient monument of national importance. He said: "The bike scrambling must be stopped. If it continues, irreparable damage will be caused to this unique site."

Debbie Griffiths, head of archaeology and historic buildings at the Dartmoor National Park Authority, said: "Earthwork sites such as that in Houndtor Wood are particularly vulnerable to damage through erosion.

"Valuable information about both the monument's and Dartmoor's past can be lost forever. Dartmoor has a rich and important archaeological heritage which should be treasured."

James Mason, of the Woodland Trust, said: "We need to put a stop to this activity immediately. Four by four drivers and motorcyclists on these sites need to be aware that what they are doing is dangerous and illegal, and is damaging the sites.

"A lot of people use these sites for perfectly legal activities and we welcome them, but these inconsiderate few are putting others at risk and ruining their enjoyment of these irreplaceable sites."

English Nature is working with police forces nationally to tackle the problem, through the use of enforcement action under both SSSI and Road Traffic Act legislation.

Any person who, without reasonable excuse, damages an SSSI is liable to prosecution and a fine at a magistrates court of up to £20,000 or an unlimited fine at a Crown court.

Source: This Is Devon 19 April 2005

Contributor Bio for PaulM: Based in Macclesfield, contributing since 2002. Favourite site: Hordron Edge. Occupation: Something in waste and recycling.

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