NATURAL England representatives have attended a St Just town council meeting to answer questions about the fencing and grazing of moorland in West Penwith.

The authority has come under heavy criticism over the issue, particularly at Carnyorth Moor.

Since the four-year scheme, which involved installing barbed wire fencing, cattle grids and gates, came to its end last year, campaign group Save Penwith Moors said the agency had failed to keep its promises.

On Monday last week, town councillors quizzed area manager Matt Carter on the agency's polices on communication, responsibilities, infrastructure and monitoring.

Following a debate, Mr Carter promised to look into financing broken gates and moving a cattle grid which had caused some upset amongst residents.

But he told the meeting that he did not believe the Heathland Forum – set up to facilitate public concerns – was effective any more.

He said: "We are of the view that the forum is not working effectively.

"But we want to involve major users of the environment and representatives of the public to be involved in a wider debate how to take the HLS (Higher Level Stewardship Scheme) forward."