A SOUTH MOLTON farmer whose wild boar business has been under the spotlight for four years has been given a second chance in his battle to remain living on his land.

Al Dedames, of Woodland Wild Boar Farm in West Anstey, was granted permission at the High Court on Monday to reapply for planning permission after seeking to overturn an enforcement notice, served by North Devon Council.

The notice, served in 2007, ordered the farmer to remove caravans, vehicles, structures and hard-standing from his farm on the basis he was living there without lawful permission.

He currently lives in three adjoining caravans under a barn roof.

Speaking to the

Journal

, Mr Dedames said: "It is agreed the enforcement notice will be held off until my application is submitted.

"I know I have won this battle, but it doesn't feel like it at the moment.

"The main thing is that I can stay there, live there and sleep there without worry. I have been so anxious about the outcome - I have not slept or eaten for about a week."

The farmer has lived on the site since numerous attacks by suspected animal right activists in 2005 destroyed his herd of boars.

He claimed he had no choice but to live there and would be left homeless if forced to move.

However, the judge advised Mr Dedames that it would be better for the challenge to be withdrawn and for him to make a fresh application for planning permission.

Mr Dedames said: "The judge was very fair and agreed it would be ridiculous for the battle to keep going on.

"The cost and time it would take would be huge."

However, if his new application is turned down, the 42-year-old farmer could face the whole process again.

Mr Dedames said: "After four years of battling, I thought there would be an actual decision, so it's hard to think of it as a victory.

"It is daunting to think I may be turned down again, but I think this time my application will be looked upon more favourably. I will certainly not give up - I have come too far."

In July 2006, Mr Dedames' retrospective application to build a temporary agricultural worker's dwelling on the farm was refused. Two months later, an application to construct a hardstanding, a car park and a separate entrance was also refused.

The enforcement notice, which requested the infrastructure be removed, was then upheld by the planning inspectorate on appeal.

Mr Dedames consequently launched a legal challenge to the Department for Communities and Local Government.

The case was resumed on Monday after the original hearing was adjourned in October last year.

The applications came as a result of vandalism attacks on the farm - believed to be the work of the Animal Liberation Front - in which 100 boar were released.

Some animals were recaptured only to be released in a subsequent attack, leaving Mr Dedames with less than 10 boars on his farm.

The incident was labelled as the start of the National Boar Wars and since then several other wild boar farms across the country have been attacked.

Before the trial, Mr Dedames said: "If I lose my fight today, I will lose my livelihood, livestock, land and everything I have worked for over the past decade. My local authority, and now the national Government offices have done nothing but hinder me, my business and my life."

Since the attacks, Mr Dedames has managed to restock his herd, although many of the 100 animals released are still roaming the Exmoor countryside.

He will be appearing in the High Court in a case, brought my himself, against the NFU.