News

MOORLAND ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR FIRE ACTION

1st August, 2003

In a hard-hitting report on the devastation caused by rogue moorland fires earlier this year published today (1st August), the Moorland Association calls for a series of urgent actions by Government and public bodies to prevent further damage to the uplands of England and Wales. In a period of two weeks over the Easter holiday, over 30,000 acres of moorland ¡V much of it designated SSSI ¡V were burnt out, causing extensive damage to wildlife and upland habitats.

The Moorland Association¡¦s report looks at the causes and effects of the fires that raged out of control, sometimes for days, and decimated sensitive habitats ¡V especially in the Peak District and Forest of Bowland. With further dry summer weather expected, the Association is urging that Government, Local Authorities, National Parks, moorland owners and farmers, Nature Conservation Agencies, the Countryside Agency and Fire Services recognise the environmental and economic devastation resulting from the spring fires and take all possible measures to avoid a repetition.

The report recommends a number of urgent actions:

„h National Park and Local Authorities must use their powers to close access areas (but not public rights of way) and take other management measures to reduce the risk of fire when the need arises. In view of the appalling losses caused by large fires, they must be accountable for their decisions.

„h In making visitor management decisions, the responsible authority must have due regard to both scientific data and the practical advice of local land managers and, if there is doubt, nature conservation interest should prevail over the desire for public access.
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„h The decision-making process must be capable of reacting rapidly, with the minimum of bureaucracy.

„h A full review of MORECS - the scientific system currently used to assess fire risk, is essential.

Looking to the future in the light of the added fire risk that will follow Open Access, the report further recommends that:

„h Access Authorities, either National Park Authorities, or Local Authorities on behalf of the Countryside Agency, should be charged with creating panels similar to existing Fire Advisory Panels, with the authority to make public access control and closure decisions.

„h A much better upland Fire Fighting capability must be created. This should include: more helicopters, and even authority to call on military helicopters in tackling serious fires; improved equipment for the Fire Service and moorland estates and better planning, training and liaison between moorland managers and their staff and the Fire Services.

Commented the report¡¦s co-author, the Moorland Association¡¦s chairman, Simon Bostock: ¡§We have sent preview copies of our report to the relevant bodies and, already, we have received an extremely positive response. We now need urgent action from the relevant authorities to ensure that the moors suffer no further damage, and also a long hard look into the future to ensure that we get things right before Open Access increases the risks.¡¨

- Ends -


A full copy of the report is available on www.moorlandassociation.org


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