Achievements
CNP's Main Achievements
2000s
July 2004: CNP celebrated the designation of the New Forest National Park after a long-running campaign.
Nov 2001 - Dec 2002: CNP gave evidence to the Dibden Bay inquiry against the proposed container port on Southampton Water which was turned down.
June 2001: CNP and partners welcomed the two china clay companies operating on Dartmoor giving up their permissions to quarry and dump waste within the National Park.
February 2001: CNP got backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Countryside Agency and Baring Foundation to undertake a project encouraging links between ethnic minority communities and National Parks.
November 2000: CNP in partnership with ANPA organised a National Park food producers event in the House of Commons for the All Party National Parks Group.
July 2000: CNP started looking at the opportunities a National Park would bring for biodiversity and landscape enhancement in the South Downs. This was thanks to support from WWF-UK and English Nature.
March 2000: Government announced a new aggregates levy, following a three-year campaign in which CNP played a significant role.
February 2000: Government decided to confirm a 10mph speed limit on Windermere in the Lake District. CNP had been a key witness at the 1994 public inquiry into this issue.
1990s
September 1999: the Deputy Prime Minister announced the Countryside Agency should consider designating the New Forest and the South Downs as National Parks. CNP has been at the forefront of the campaign to secure National Park status for these two areas over many years.
December 1998: CNP successfully persuaded the Secretary of State to reconvene the public inquiry into the Ministry of Defence's proposals for Northumberland.
April 1998: the Environment Secretary refused an extension to Spaunton Quarry in the North York Moors National Park. This was a firm endorsement of CNP's lead role in opposing the development at Public Inquiry.
1998: CNP published the innovative report, Wild by Design that explored the potential for creating wilder areas in National Parks.
1997: CNP led a consortium of voluntary organisations opposed to plans for a major military development at Otterburn in the Northumberland National Park. The campaign led to an environmental dimension being included in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review.
The Corporate Forum and CNP published two influential reports on sustainable development, as part of the National Parks for Life project. Jonathon Porritt called the project, "one of the most significant developments since the Rio Earth Summit".
CNP Vice President, Lord Norrie, piloted through the Lords a Private Member's Bill that sought to set up free standing National Park Authorities. The Bill led directly to some of the main National Park provisions in the 1995 Environment Act. This was recognised by a BBC Wildlife Magazine Green Ribbon Award for the best political campaign by an environmental organisation.
1993: Natural Assets report, prepared by environmental consultants Green Balance influenced the whole issue of how mineral working in the Parks is considered.
1992: Corporate Forum for National Parks launched.
1980s
1980s: CNP led the campaign against plans to grant aid the conversion of grazing marsh at Halvergate in the Broads to arable land - this led to the establishment of the Environmentally Sensitive Area. CNP went on to be closely involved in the preparation of the Broads Bill (1985) which was enacted in 1988 to give the Broads National Park equivalent status.
1980s: CNP was at the forefront of the debate about the future of hill farming and published an influential report, New Life for the Hills (1983). CNP was one of the partners in the establishment of the innovative North York Moors farm scheme (1989).
1960s
During the 1950s and 60s CNP's predecessor, the Standing Committee on National Parks, appeared at many public inquiries, to press for better protection of National Parks, and kept National Park interests in the public eye. In 1977 the Standing Committee became the Council for National Parks.
1950s
Following the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act in 1949, the Standing Committee was instrumental in achieving the designation of National Parks in the 1950s.
1940s
1945: the Hobhouse Committee (including many members of SCNP) recommended twelve areas in England and Wales for National Park status.
1930s
The Standing Committee on National Parks began life in 1936 campaigning for the establishment of National Parks. The SCNP organised 80 voluntary organisations to write to the Government calling for National Parks to be set up.