Ancient Dartmoor track diversion bid fails Published duration 3 May 2014

A family has failed to get an ancient right of way on Dartmoor diverted, despite arguing that their privacy and security was being affected.

The Pye family wanted to divert the bridleway about 100m (330ft) away from their farmhouse at North Bovey.

But Dartmoor National Park Authority did not feel their arguments justified the loss of an ancient right of way and felt it may set a precedent.

No-one from the Pye family was available for comment.

James Paxman, chief executive of the Dartmoor Preservation Association, said: "I am pleased that the park authority decided not to go ahead with this because if they had done it would encourage other people to come forward with similar proposals for diversions and that would be detrimental to the network as a whole.

"We have a fabulous network of paths across the county and most are hundreds of years old."