PROPOSALS to alter the rights of way across Salisbury Plain have sparked a row between the Ministry of Defence and neighbouring parish councils, who claim their access to the beauty spot is being further restricted.

After negotiations with the military, Wiltshire county council has published plans outlining the closure of many existing byways and footpaths, and replacing them with new rights of way in more easily maintainable parts of the Army Training Estate.

However, the proposal has upset residents in the Avon Valley, who are accusing the MoD of expanding the danger impact areas and stopping their access to some of the most beautiful parts of the plain.

"We have several concerns," said Roger Hayward, chairman of the Avon Valley Rights of Way Action Group, who staged a walk to protest against the changes.

"They want to close Honeydown Bottom to the public, which is a most attractive area with lots of orchids and wild flowers.

"But the most pressing issue is that they have erected new signs extending the danger impact area that is out of bounds because of the shells, and reducing our rights of way by this encroachment.

"We believe this contravenes the public inquiry of 1984, which set out the rights of way.

"I think all the parish councils in the Avon Valley will say no to these plans as they are, but it doesn't mean that we aren't willing to negotiate, although the army will have to compromise."

Up to 4,000 soldiers at a time use Salisbury Plain for training exercises, firing on approximately 250 days a year. Senior officers at the Army Training Estate say they do all they can to allow access within strict safety guidelines and anyone can use the rights of way at evenings, weekends and in the summer holidays when the army is not firing.

Commandant, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Norrington-Davies, said: "Of all our objectives, the first is army training and the second is protecting the public.

"We bend over backwards to allow people to enjoy the plain but we must maintain our duty of care.

"Some of the rights of way we want to close are those it is hard to clear of debris."

The Army argues that, while rights of way totalling 32km may be shut, the plans involve opening a further 37km of new public byways, footpaths and bridleways, allowing access to parts of the plain that are currently off-limits when they are not firing.

"We also issue red card passes that allow those with a genuine interest in conservation to access the plain," said Lieutenant Colonel Nigel de Foubert.

"We even have a model flying club but we have to operate strict controls because of safety."

Range safety officer Chris Warne said the dangers of debris from shellfire were the reason for the new warning signs in the Avon Valley.

"We have not expanded the impact area," he said. "We have moved the signs from an out-of-date planning line to the edge of the true danger area.

"This has been done to exercise our duty of care to both soldiers and civilians and deter those with limited knowledge of the plain from entering a potentially more dangerous area."