ORGANISATION
The commoners of most commons or groups of
commons have formed management associations (Local Commoners' Associations; LCAs),
which are in turn grouped in the historic north, south,
east and west ‘quarters’ of Dartmoor. Under the
Dartmoor Commons Act of 1985 each quarter elects five
commoners to represent them on a central Dartmoor
Commoners’ Council.
All must be from different associations and one of the
five must be a ‘small grazier’ with a right to graze less
than 10 livestock units (each unit equals one adult cow
or pony or 5 sheep).
The Council also has seats for two representatives
of owners of the commons, two from the Dartmoor
National Park Authority, one from the Duchy of Cornwall
and a vet. It can co-opt two more members in addition
to the 26 just named.
The Commoners’ Council makes regulations about
most matters, which concern the management of the
commons, the welfare of the stock de-pastured there
and arbitrates in disputes between commoners.
When necessary it enforces against breaches
of the Regulations by going to court. The
National Park Authority makes byelaws
to regulate public access and behaviour
under the same Act.
