Unprecedented numbers of visitors have made their way to Dartmoor National Park over the last month, with every day like a ‘summer bank holiday on steroids’.

The majority of the visitors have come, enjoyed themselves and respected Dartmoor, Dr Kevin Bishop, chief executive of the National Park, told Friday’s Authority meeting, but he added that sadly there is a minority that have not.

‘How we seek to tackle the anti-social behaviour of this minority is one of key challenges going forward,’ he added, saying: ‘The verbal abuse of our staff is unacceptable as is the damage to sensitive habitats and the impact on local communities.’

Dr Bishop was providing the meeting with an update on how Dartmoor National Park has responded to the coronavirus crisis and the impacts, challenges and the opportunities it can bring them in the future.

He said that while the pandemic is having a financial impact on the work of the Authority, at this current time they believe that they can manage through this crisis without the need for additional support during this year, adding: ‘We have always been prudent in our budget setting in terms of forecasts of external income generation and this prudence is helping us to manage the current situation.

‘This is obviously dependent on how the pandemic develops, but our key concern is the longer term implications for our core funding. Given that we have had real terms cuts to our core funding in eight of the last 10 years austerity never really ended for the Authority.

‘COVID-19 is having an impact on our revenue budget for 2020/21 but we are seeking to manage this through limited use of the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and in-year savings.

‘Unlike some other National Park Authorities, who are able to generate significant sums of income from assets that they own, we have few assets from which to trade and thus have more limited exposure to loss of commercial income.

‘We are losing income through sales in visitor centres, lack of car park charges and the waiving of vending licence charges, and these losses then need to be balanced against savings from project spend, stock acquisition, travel etc.’

Donna Healy, Head of Business Support, added that the 2019/20 budget saw a revenue surplus for the Authority of £179,957 against the target budget, up from the estimated £116,998 surplus forecast at month 9, partly because stock for resale in the Visitor Centres was been deferred until they are able to re-open.

But she said that because of the enforced closure of the visitor centres and the decision to suspend parking charges, until they resumed charging on June 9, the Authority had brought in no income from these sources in the first two months of 2020/21.

Initially visitors were strongly encouraged not to travel to Dartmoor as part of the lockdown restrictions, but following the Government announcement to allow unlimited outdoor exercise and driving to do this from May 13, Dr Bishop said: “Since then we have seen unprecedented levels of visitors to the National Park. It has seemed as if every day has been a ‘summer bank holiday on steroids’.

‘During lock-down the benefits of less motorised traffic were enjoyed across the UK, but with returning visitors we have been quickly reminded of the negative impact of numbers of cars on Dartmoor.’

‘There are some opportunities through this pandemic that we need to build upon, such as sustaining the community spirit and volunteer activity that we have witnessed in our towns, villages and communities.

‘We also sense that since the easing of lockdown we have seen more first time visitors to Dartmoor – people seeking a ‘safe place’ to relax and exercise. This provides an opportunity to ensure that these people develop a ‘love and respect’ of the National Park and its communities; and to help them lead healthier and happier lives.’