MORE than 500 on-line signatures have been collected so far this week, urging the Duchy of Cornwall to reconsider its access proposals over the Loop Road near Okehampton.
Parts of the moorland road, which gives acess to the remote inner moor, have deteriorated badly. The Duchy has put forward new proposals including closing some sections to civilian traffic and improving car parking areas.
A petition —http://www.petitionline.com/ringroad/petition.html">www.petitionline.com/ringroad/petition.html — has been set up by Dartmoor Users, providing a voice for many of the loop road users to have their say.
Last week, the petition was swelled by more than 25 signatories from the United States, mainly from letterbox enthusiasts.
Maureen Sowerby, a co-founder of the Dartmoor Users' group, has delivered the first part of the petition to the Duchy of Cornwall's land steward at Princetown and to the director of the Dartmoor National Park at Bovey Tracey.
She said: 'We do not want the Duchy or DNPA to spend money on re-tarmacing the entire loop road, nor spend money on expensive car parks and picnic areas!
'They would be making Row Tor the Haytor of the north, where people park their cars, walk 100 yards up the tor, then back again and picnic. All we want to do is exactly what we are doing at the moment.'
All the petitioners are asking, she says, is to repair the road from point OP22 to OP15 and fill in the potholes.
Mrs Sowerby added: 'I do hope the Duchy and all those involved in this consultation take on board the concerns of the general public. The public, so far, have been denied a consultation and I urge them to consider this point.
'This is not going to go away — just offering to make new car parks and picnic areas is not going to solve the problem.'
Mrs Sowerby said to close the road would be deny less able walkers access to the most remote areas of Dartmoor, which currently they are able to do.
Among those signing the petition are many letterboxers, who use clues, grid references and navigational skills to locate hidden boxes on the moor.
Stephanie and Roger Paul from Throwleigh, who organise the letterbox Hundred Club, are worried about access to the road.
Stephanie said: 'We don't want ice cream vans or picnic areas at the Loop Road, we want to leave it as it is except perhaps to fill in the existing potholes. At the moment it is natural and wild and we want to keep it that way. We are also concerned for the safety of our walkers. '
Mrs Paul said around 40 Americans visited Dartmoor two years ago; she contacted one of them, Mitch Kilnz from Oregon, USA. Mr Kilnz has been encouraging fellow American letterboxers to sign the petition.
Ironically, letterboxers are holding an exhibition in the USA, partly sponsored by the DNPA.
Alexis Carrington, a letterboxer from Beacon, New York, said: 'Please keep the road open. We've visited Dartmoor and Cranmere Pool and look forward to another visit without a four mile hike!'
The Duchy of Cornwall confirmed that it was due to receive responses over its Loop Road proposals by February 6.
A Duchy spokesperson told the Times: 'The Duchy of Cornwall, in conjunction with a number of other local organisations, has long supported the reversion of the Loop Road to its natural, stone surface.
'The condition of the section is now extremely poor and, in accordance with existing policy of visual intrusion and safety, it is intended that part of the road will be closed to civilian vehicles.'