In reply to PaulJepson:
> How do they think they will reduce anti-social behaviour by condensing the area that people are allowed to wild-camp in? The same number of people will go to Dartmoor to wild camp, they'll just be less spread-out.
Its not really about compression the issue as such....yet....although a future of small "approved" sites, which of course you pay for may well be in the future.
For now this is more about pushing the camping further away from roads and settlements. There is some sort of loose logic to that; the Rab C Nesbit camping kit in a carrier bag brigade certainly don't want to walk far!
But it is a classic of missing the point completely. The changes will affect those who cause no problem anyway. The muppets will still stick their frame tents up and leave their sh*t at Belliver....Black Hill....Four Winds and others and ignore the bylaws anyway.
I said on the other thread that the problems this year were pretty bad, but entirely predictable and could have been largely avoided. What's really needed....
Enforcement of the existing rules and on the spot fines.
Real options for camping in vans. No Plume this year so allow van parking in Postbridge, Venford and even Dartmeet carparks all of which have toilets. Fixed cost of £10 per night, big fine for no pay.
Encourage informal short term tents only sites near Princetown, Postbridge and Merrivale. Income for farmers and control of the problem
Those are just a few easy steps all of which will help.