Hunt begins for boss of Dartmoor National Park

THE search has begun for a new leader to take Dartmoor on the next step of a 'challenging' journey.

- GUY HENDERSON Local Democracy Reporter

Tributes were paid at a meeting of Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) last week to chief executive Kevin Bishop, who recently announced that he will be standing down after 18 years in what he described as his 'dream job'.

Members have now voted to spend £30,000 to bring in an executive recruitment firm to start the search for his successor.

Authority chairman William Dracup, himself a moorland farmer, said Dr Bishop had shown 'tremendous leadership' since taking up the post in 2007.

Philip Sanders, whose 20 years at DNPA came to an end after Devon County Council elections in May, said Dr Bishop's contributions had been 'amazing'.

Mr Sanders, who was presented with a specially engraved Dartmoor signpost to mark his service, said Dartmoor had to face up to fresh challenges, not least a lack of Government funding.