Latest News from CNP
28 January 2010: Anger at West Sussex County Council’s decision on National Park
CNP and other countryside organisations have reacted angrily to the news that West Sussex County Council has ignored pleas from the public, environmental organisations and even its own Environment Committee about public paths in the South Downs National Park. The County Council has announced it will definitely take back the maintenance of rights of way and countryside sites in the West Sussex National Park area. At a stroke, this will end eighteen years of very successful integrated path work throughout Sussex and jeopardises the goodwill of hundreds of volunteers. This decision, made by cabinet member Councillor Deborah Urquhart, comes despite the chorus of protests which erupted following the controversial proposal on public paths in the South Downs National Park.
Ruth Chambers of the Campaign for National Parks added: “We think the County Council is being blasé about the ease with which staff can be transferred from the South Downs Joint Committee. There is now a very real risk of losing very talented staff, who are hugely experienced, know the area like the backs of their hands, and who have built up excellent relationships with the public and landowners over many years. We deplore this decision by West Sussex County Council.”
For more information see the press release
20 January 2010: Environment Committee urges West Sussex County Council to think again on South Downs paths and tracks
CNP and other countryside organisations have welcomed the recommendation that West Sussex County Council should reconsider its position on rights of way in the South Downs National Park. West Sussex County Council announced on Christmas Eve that it intended to take back responsibility for the rights of way network when the South Downs National Park Authority replaces the Joint Committee. The County Council’s environment committee has recommended full consultation before a final decision is taken, including with the South Downs Society, the Access Forum, parish councils and other county councils.
John Songhurst, Chairman of the South Downs Society, said: “We think the County Council’s environment committee has come up with the right recommendation, and we hope Councillor Urquhart will put her decision on hold until there’s been time to consult with relevant groups.
“One of the most important consultees is the National Park Authority, which will be set up in its shadow form in April. We think seeking the views of the South Downs Joint Committee will also be very helpful to Councillor Urquhart. They have been doing a great job of managing the rights of way in the Sussex part of the Downs for nearly twenty years, and will continue in this role until April 2011.”
Ruth Chambers of the Campaign for National Parks said: “Whilst we think that the National Park is best-placed to look after the paths in the South Downs, we welcome Councillor Urquhart’s statement that if the rights of way were managed by West Sussex, the County Council would work in partnership with the National Park, would agree protocols, and would standardise the way paths were managed across the National Park.”
For more information see the press release
21 December 2009: Have your say on expanding the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks
Natural England has launched a public consultation on extending the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks to include some stunning areas of countryside immediately abutting the existing boundaries. Two areas to the east of the Lake District and two areas to the west and north west of the Yorkshire Dales are being considered for inclusion within those Parks, with the beautiful limestone country above Orton being considered for inclusion in either Park. The existing Park boundaries were originally drawn up under political pressure according to former administrative or road boundaries in the 1950s and parts of the boundaries have long been considered an anomaly – for example, dividing the Howgill Fells in two with half inside and half outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park, despite them being a clear and continuous landscape feature of immense beauty and recreational value.
All of the areas affected, together with full consultation details, can be viewed at http://lakestodaleslandscapes.org.uk/home. The consultation ends on 17 March 2010. For a copy of the consultation pack please call 0161 273 8235.
CNP strongly supports the recognition that these areas are of National Park quality and will be responding to the consultation. This step marks major progress in what CNP and many others have long considered to be unfinished business for the two Parks.
For more information see Natural England's press release
15 December 2009: Red-letter year for National Parks topped by launch of plans to expand them
The Campaign for National Parks (CNP) is delighted at this week’s planned launch by Natural England of proposals to expand the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, on the 60th anniversary of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 which created them.
2009 has been a red-letter year for National Parks – the South Downs joined the family, the environment secretary launched a new climate change plan for Parks and the Parks have made involving local communities in their work a top priority.
CNP’s Ruth Chambers said, ‘What better way of celebrating this special National Parks week than by kicking off the consultation to expand them.
‘This step marks major progress in what CNP and many others have long considered to be unfinished business for the two Parks. Parts of the existing boundaries make little sense in landscape terms, having been drawn under political pressure along former administrative or road boundaries at the time of their original designation in the 1950s. There are some stunning areas immediately abutting both Parks which thoroughly deserve to be given National Park status, for example the Northern Howgills and areas around Mallerstang, Orton and Whinfell. We warmly welcome Natural England’s imminent public consultation on expanding the National Parks.’
For more information see the press release
9 December 2009: Parliament celebrates 60 years of National Parks
Parliamentarians celebrated 60 years of National Parks at a reception organised by the All Party Parliamentary Group on National Parks. MPs and Peers from all parties, National Park leaders and voluntary organisations watched a film that had been produced by CPRE called the case for the defence. It was shown in cinemas in the 1930s as part of the campaign for National Parks to be set up in England and Wales.
The Secretary of State Hilary Benn and Director General of the National Trust Fiona Reynolds praised the work of the National Parks and recognised the efforts of early campaigners, including CNP's predecessor the Standing Committee on National Parks, in getting National Parks onto the statute book.
CNP's Ruth Chambers commented '60 years of National Parks is a wonderful achievement and we are delighted that the South Downs has joined the National Parks family in this special year. However, it is important to look forward and consider how the Parks can play a full role in meeting the challenges that lie ahead, including a changing climate, and that they continue to reach new audiences'.
Click here for more information on the 60th anniversary year.
7 December 2009: Ofgem gives green light to undergrounding in National Parks
The Campaign for National Parks has welcomed today's decision by Ofgem to give the green light to the continuation of the special fund that can be used to place electricity wires underground in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (see its final proposals for the next period of Electricity Distribution Price Control, which start from 1 April 2010). The companies that operate the distribution system have until Wednesday 6 January 2010 to accept or reject Ofgem’s proposals. Most of the companies have engaged positively with the undergrounding scheme during the past five years, resulting in several intrusive lines being placed underground.
CNP’s Ruth Chambers said 'this is great news, especially during the 60th anniversary year of National Parks and AONBs. The scheme has led to several unsightly lines being placed underground and we encourage all electricity companies to engage with local stakeholders at the earliest opportunity to draw up a wish list for the next five years so that the landscape benefits of the scheme can be maximised’.
Here are some examples of where the scheme has benefited the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. See below for images of Perryfoot in the Peak District National Park, which has also benefited from the scheme.
1 December 2009: National Park jewels will lift Cumbria's fortunes
The recent battering Cumbria has received from the weather didn't stop representatives from almost all the National Park societies across the country attending the annual National Park Societies conference hosted by Friends of the Lake District on the 27-29 November. Delegates made site visits to Grizedale, Hampsfell and Lake Windermere to see at first hand how the Lake District landscape is being managed to face up to many demanding pressures, including climate change, the condition of wildlife habitats and lake water quality and visitor traffic.
Jim McQueen Friends of the Lake District Trustee and Conference organiser said: "The Lake District landscape has taken a real battering from the heavy rains so we were very fortunate to go ahead. We were pleased to be able to show off our partnership working with public bodies like the Forestry Commission, Natural England and the National Park Authority."
Ruth Chambers from the Campaign for National Parks said: 'We congratulate Friends of the Lake District for hosting this annual gathering of all local park societies. As well as exploring the history and evolution of the National Parks, we looked ahead to the next sixty years. While there are many uncertainties for the future, one thing is clear - National Parks need passionate people to campaign on their behalf as much as ever.'
For more information see the Friends of the Lake District press release
20 November 2009: Glyndebourne wind turbine proved to be hot air
Following the release of new data, CNP, along with other national and regional environmental groups, has called on the world-famous Glyndebourne Opera House to abandon its plan to build a giant wind turbine in the South Downs National Park. The data gathered by the wind mast, which has been measuring wind speeds for a year, shows that the power likely to be generated by the turbine is a third less than predicted.
Ruth Chambers of CNP said: “This data casts serious doubt on the plans for a large turbine at Glyndebourne. With the wind resource proven to be much lower than predicted, common sense should now prevail – the turbine should not be built and the stunning South Downs landscape should remain free of such industrial structures.”
For more information see the press release
12 November 2009: South Downs National Park confirmed at last!
It has been more than 60 years in the making but today sees the South Downs finally becoming England’s 9th and the United Kingdom’s 14th National Park. After Hilary Benn’s announcement in March earlier this year that he had agreed in principle to the National Park, campaigners have been waiting eagerly for the final boundary disputes to be resolved. These led to a one-day public inquiry in August with the Inspector submitting his report to Government in the same month. Until these issues had been sorted out, the legal order, formally creating the National Park could not be signed.
CNP and other members of the South Downs Campaign (SDC), are celebrating the removal of this last hurdle in the long and difficult history of the South Downs. It now wants to see swift action to ensure that the new National Park Authority is given all the help that it needs to make it a success.
Ruth Chambers of the Campaign for National Parks said: '‘This timely announcement comes on the 60th anniversary of the 1949 Act which established the concept of National Parks in England and Wales. It shows that Sir Arthur Hobhouse and his committee in 1947 were right to recommend that the South Downs becomes a National Park and is a welcome addition to the family of National Parks which enjoys public support from all over the UK. We applaud the Government for confirming the designation of the National Park and urge it to ensure that the Park now gets the necessary resources to do its job properly’.
Emma Marrington of the Campaign to Protect Rural England said: ' This hugely positive and visionary decision could not come too soon for a landscape which is one of the most pressurised in the country. With the demands for new housing and large-scale development in the South East the National Park Authority will need to be a strong guardian of the South Downs. The pressures don’t stop here but this is a massively important step towards safeguarding this area for future generations.’
Robin Crane, Chair of the South Downs Campaign, commented:
“Today is a fantastic and historic day: the final milestone on the long path to a South Downs National Park. The South Downs will now have the protection and recognition that this landscape so richly deserves. We are pleased that our evidence on Green Ridge has convinced the Inspector and the Government that its exclusion was a mistake and that this has now been rectified. In West Sussex, the inclusion of Castle Goring is a victory for local people who have fought long and hard to have this area included. We also welcome the inclusion of Alice Holt Forest, which will bring new opportunities to that part of Hampshire.”
For more information see the press release
See the BBC website for an interview with Hilary Benn
12 November 2009: Llanbedr airfield plans face setback
CNP has welcomed today’s refusal by the Snowdonia National Park Authority of applications that could have led to a new airport at the former military facility at Llanbedr in the Snowdonia National Park. The refusal, which follows specialist legal advice, relates to Lawful Use Certificates, which are a legal and not a planning matter. In welcoming the decision, Ruth Chambers from CNP said ‘we applaud the Park Authority’s decision and its careful and legally-based analysis of the applications. If the developer wants to push forward with plans for a new airfield, this will have to be done through the planning system, with the environmental impacts properly addressed and the public fully consulted. The strong protection provided by the National Park will be a very high hurdle for any new airport to overcome’.
For more information read the National Park Authority’s press release and legal advice or the Snowdonia Society’s response
10 November 2009: £1m boost for Peak District cycling project
CNP is delighted that the Government has announced its support for a new £3.785m cycle trail in the Peak District National Park. The Government will contribute £1m to the proposed Buxton to Bakewell section of the route which includes re-opening four old railway tunnels for cyclists, walkers and horse-riders.
CNP has long campaigned for additional funding for National Parks to increase sustainable transport opportunities. We hope that this Government commitment will be repeated in the other National Parks.
For more information see the Peak District National Park Authority press release.
5 November 2009: Rural alliance calls for 1,750 pylons to be buried
CNP in alliance with CPRE, CPRW and the National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty is calling for the eventual removal of three of the largest and most unsightly lines of pylons in the country, stretching over 350 miles of countryside. The call comes as a new Government policy, due this month, is expected to support at least 12 new lines of overhead pylons across 170 miles of England and Wales.
The alliance is calling for a long-term plan to dismantle three lines owned by National Grid that particularly affect our most important landscapes. The lines should be removed and then either replaced with underground or undersea cables, or re-routed.
Ruth Chambers, Deputy Chief Executive of CNP, said:
‘Electricity pylons can have a major impact on wild and beautiful landscapes. National Grid has made a welcome commitment to protecting the environment, early consultation and considering undergrounding lines in sensitive areas. The challenge for the next decade will be to build on this commitment and seize all possible opportunities to reduce the impact of large pylons on beautiful landscapes such as National Parks.’
For more information see the press release
26 October 2009: Government rejects flight limits over National Parks
The Government has rejected the Transport Select Committee (TSC)’s recommendation to set maximum limits on noise levels and the number of flights permitted over National Parks and other sensitive areas. Its response to the TSC report into the use of airspace (July 2009), which made the recommendation, was published earlier today.
The response, if not surprising, is extremely disappointing. The Government says that any restriction on flights over National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) may result in any revised flight paths being routed over congested areas, potentially affecting significantly more people. This ignores the fact that National Parks and AONBs have been singled out as areas worthy of special protection, and should not be treated as just like anywhere else.
The Government refers to Department for Transport guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority that requires the Authority to “pursue policies that will help to preserve tranquillity where this does not increase significantly the environmental burdens on congested areas”, but it fails properly to recognise that it is also bound by a statutory duty to have regard to National Park purposes.
Tranquillity is one of the key special qualities that National Parks offer, and one of their most valued. Although it acknowledges that tranquillity is becoming “an increasingly important issue”, particularly for those living in rural areas, the Government claims that it is too subjective a concept to measure. It relies on the fact that there is nothing in law or guidance to preclude flights over National Parks or AONBs to justify its stance and in doing so, it side-steps the real issue – limiting flights over these special areas, not banning them altogether.
CNP is disheartened by the Government’s response but not defeated. We will continue to engage with the Civil Aviation Authority on this important issue.
The Government’s response can be read in full on the TSC website (see recommendations 13 and 14 in particular)
20 October 2009: Hundreds join Ben Fogle for a walk in the South Downs
Ben Fogle, CNP’s President, was delighted when over two hundred walkers joined him to celebrate the South Downs becoming a National Park. The walk in Amberley on 17th October gave Ben the opportunity to share his passion for National Parks and to highlight the ongoing need to protect these special places for future generations.
Ben said: “Congratulations to everyone who campaigned so hard and for so long for the South Downs to be designated a National Park. I grew up not far from here and I have many special memories of this area. It is wonderful that it will at long last get the protection it deserves. “
Ben was joined by members of the public, supporters of the Campaign for National Parks, the South Downs Society, and many others who have campaigned so hard to secure the South Downs’ protection as a National Park.
Watch a video of Ben Fogle at the walk
For more information see the press release
6 October 2009: Adventurer Ben Fogle leads South Downs celebration
Ben Fogle, broadcaster, adventurer and President of CNP, has invited the public to join him for a walk on Saturday 17 October at Amberley, in the heart of the new National Park. 18 September 2009: CNP short-listed for "Small Charity, Big Achiever" Award
Ben Fogle said: “It is wonderful news that the South Downs will become a National Park. I will be celebrating the Government’s decision on a beautiful walk with the Campaign for National Parks and the South Downs Society. I have many happy memories of walks in the South Downs and I am delighted that this area will now get the protection it deserves. It is fitting that we are celebrating this on the 60th anniversary of the Act which originally set up National Parks in this country. A South Downs National Park is long overdue and I should like to congratulate everyone who has worked over many years to secure this success.”
The walk is 5.5 miles, and starts from Amberley Station at 11am. Those wishing to join in should contact Liz Wall on 020 7924 4077 x223. More details of the walk can be found here
For more information see the press release
CNP is delighted to have been short-listed for the Third Sector Excellence Awards in the “Small Charity, Big Achiever” category. The Awards aim to reward examples of outstanding campaigns, strategies, projects and performance, backed up by hard evidence of success.
CNP has been short-listed for its work with Mosaic, a ground breaking national project that engages ethnic minority communities with the National Parks.
CNP Chief Executive Kathy Moore says: “As a small charity working to protect and promote the National Parks, we are very proud to be delivering a successful national project like Mosaic, working with ethnic minority community leaders across England and delivering real changes on the ground.”
Ben Fogle, President of the Campaign for National Parks, explains why he supports the project: “Going to the countryside inspired me when I was a child, and led me to pursue the adventures I enjoy now as an adult. Mosaic is a fantastic project that works to make sure that everyone has that opportunity to experience and be amazed by the most spectacular landscapes in our country."
For more information see the press release
CNP is calling on the Department for Transport to accept the recommendation of the Transport Select Committee to restrict noise levels and the number of flights permitted over National Parks and other sensitive areas. The recommendation comes after an extensive inquiry into the use of UK airspace, in which the Committee recognised the importance of protecting National Parks and noted the critical role of tranquillity in defining what makes these areas special.
“We are delighted that the Committee has proposed a sensible solution to this issue”, said Alex Thursby of CNP. “For too long, aviation policy has allowed decisions to be made about the use of airspace over National Parks without proper regard for the significant, negative impact that aircraft can have on the setting below.”
“We look to the DfT to accept the recommendation in full and urgently prioritise the important work that lies ahead in determining what would be an appropriate limit. In doing so, the department must involve National Park Authorities, communities and all those with an interest in protecting the Parks – not just the aviation industry.”
For more information see the press release
28 August 2009: Passport to the National Parks
What better way to enjoy the bank holiday weekend than to start collecting stamps in a special National Parks passport! Pick up a passport at a National Park visitor centre or download one here and you will receive a stamp for each National Park you visit. The passport has been issued to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949.
See here for further information.
3 August 2009: Giant South Downs wind turbines withdrawn
CNP is delighted that Volkswind, the company behind plans to build two 400ft wind turbines on a prominent ridge in the South Downs, has decided not to go ahead.
CNP’s Head of Policy, Ruth Chambers, said “We firmly support renewable energy projects in National Parks, but these must be at the right scale and in the right place. These giant turbines would have been a major blight on the South Downs National Park". 31 July 2009: Campaigners urge Government action on quarrying at Backdale
A representative of the Longstone Edge Coalition, of which CNP is a member, has met with Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, to urge the Government to save the Peak District National Park from quarrying destruction. Earlier this year the Court of Appeal ordered the quarry operator to cease quarrying for limestone at Backdale, but limestone continues to be removed. The Coalition is worried that an unscrupulous operator could continue quarrying the site until 2042, when the mineral permissions run out.
Andy Tickle, a Coalition spokesperson, handed a letter to Hilary Benn. He said: "It’s been a long battle against the quarry operators – six years of heart ache, frustration and appalling landscape vandalism. We have now won the legal battle, but another operator could still use planning loopholes to continue their wanton destruction of this pristine land".
Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy at CNP, said: “the time has come to end the shocking quarrying activity at Backdale once and for all. We urge the Government to step in and buy out the quarrying permission, in order to protect this landscape from further devastation".
For more information see the press release
29 July 2009: Stronger links between ethnic minority communities and National Parks 
CNP along with President Ben Fogle, has been celebrating the start of Mosaic, a three-year national project which will engage ethnic minority communities with the National Parks. Mosaic will develop Community Champions for National Parks within black and ethnic minority groups in 20 cities across England. The project – which is funded by Natural England through Access to Nature as a part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme – will provide Champions with a range of new skills which will help to ensure that the knowledge and experiences that they gain will continue to be shared once the project has ended.
The project will also focus on the organisations which run the 9 National Parks in England, who have committed to taking a major step forward in their attempts to reach a broader audience. Accommodation provider the Youth Hostels Association will also be a key project partner. The Mosaic project will be hosted by CNP, which has 8 years’ experience working on the ground to engage ethnic minority communities with the National Parks.
CNP’s President Ben Fogle welcomes the Mosaic project: “Going to the countryside inspired me when I was a child, and led me to pursue the adventures I enjoy now as an adult. Mosaic is a fantastic project that works to make sure that everyone has that opportunity to experience and be amazed by the most spectacular landscapes in our country."
Huw Irranca-Davies, Natural Environment Minister, said: “The work being done by the Campaign for National Parks and community groups through Mosaic is not only breaking down barriers, but is also forging lasting links so that more people from minority communities and under-represented groups are attracted to our National Parks and can enjoy some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in the world. Projects like Mosaic help create social cohesion within communities nationwide and the government wholeheartedly supports the work they do.”
For more information see the press release or visit the Mosaic website
17 July 2009: Government says no to direct elections for Park Authorities and gives thumbs up to involving local communities
The Government has announced (16 July) that it is not going to introduce direct elections for members of National Park Authorities and the Broads Authority, following a 2008 consultation. While welcoming the community engagement that already takes place across the Parks, Defra Minister Huw Irranca-Davies MP has encouraged the Park Authorities to share best practice and learn from each other. In particular, he suggests that Authorities should consider making the reporting of progress and performance more open and transparent, consider whether existing forums provide sufficient opportunities for public involvement and undertake regular resident and visitor surveys. The consultation had also considered whether parish council members should become part of the Broads Authority and, while this has been ruled out for now, it may be revisited following local government reorganisation in Norfolk.
In welcoming the Government’s announcement CNP’s Deputy Chief Executive Ruth Chambers responded: ‘we welcome the clarity that the Government has provided in this statement and hope that efforts will now focus on ensuring that the community involvement that already exists can be built upon so that local people feel part of their National Park’s decision making and contribute fully to the Authority’s work’.
The Ministerial statement is here
16 July 2009: CNP joins call for shift from road building to transport measures
CNP has joined an alliance of twenty Welsh organisations calling on the Assembly Government to “perform a U-turn” on transport policy as it publishes the first ever national transport plan for Wales. For the first time public transport operators have joined passenger watchdogs, health groups and NGOs to press for greater priority to be given to a range of initiatives that promote green transport. The coalition supports a range of measures including those which promote integrated transport, such as multi-modal ticketing, bus and rail interchanges, ‘Smart Cards’ and secure cycle parking; travel planning, car clubs and car-sharing, traffic calming and speed restraint to encourage walking and cycling and a comprehensive marketing strategy to target information at those who are susceptible to change the way they travel.
The full press release is available here
The National Transport Plan can be found here
15 July 2009: New chair for National Park pressure group
CNP has elected a new Chair, Anne Robinson. Anne takes over from Kate Ashbrook who had been Chair since 2003. Anne lives in the Peak District National Park, is Vice Chair of the Campaign to Protect Rural England and works closely with the Friends of the Peak District.
Says Anne: ‘in their 60th anniversary year, the National Parks of England and Wales have never been more popular, more necessary – or more vulnerable. Being Chair of CNP is a challenge that I relish, knowing that CNP has a fine record in campaigning and in support of these extraordinary and magical treasures.
Outgoing Chair Kate Ashbrook said: ‘I have really enjoyed being Chair of the Campaign for National Parks for the last six years and am delighted that Anne is taking over and am confident that she will defend the National Parks with campaigning zeal’.
For more information see the press release
10 July 2009: CNP applauds recommendation for tighter aviation controls over National Parks
Limits must be set on noise levels and the number of flights permitted per hour over National Parks and other sensitive areas – so the Transport Select Committee has concluded in a report following its extensive inquiry into the use of airspace, published today. In our response to the inquiry CNP called for aviation policy to be strengthened to reflect properly the statutory protection afforded to nationally designated landscapes, and the Committee has listened. The report recognises that tranquillity is a key factor in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and that current guidance appears to allow unchecked increases in aviation activity over these areas. CNP warmly welcomes the report’s recommendations and will be watching closely for the Government’s response.
The full report can be read here (CNP’s evidence appears at Ev94)
25 June 2009: CNP delight at House of Lords decision on Backdale
CNP is delighted that the House of Lords has refused to hear an appeal against the Peak District National Park Authority's enforcement action at Backdale quarry on Longstone Edge.
CNP's Ruth Chambers said: "this fantastic news is a vital step towards a permanent solution at Backdale. The case had centred on the interpretation of the original 1952 planning permission for quarrying, which the Court of Appeal has clarified and the law lords have said should stand unchallenged".
Three law lords refused to hear the appeal, stating: "Permission is refused because the petition does not raise an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered by the House at this time, bearing in mind that the case has already been the subject of judicial decision and reviewed on appeal".
For further information see the Peak District National Park Authority's press release
3 June 2009: CNP President Ben Fogle chairs debate on renewable energy at the Hay Festival
While chairing a debate at the internationally renowned Hay Festival, CNP President Ben Fogle leant his support to the Green Valleys project which could provide a blueprint for other National Parks to develop renewable energy across their areas. The Green Valleys project aims to reduce carbon emissions in the Brecon Beacons National Park by using hydro-electric power and other energy saving technologies.
More information about the The Green Valleys project
6 May 2009: CNP welcomes possible National Park boundary extensions
CNP has welcomed the news that Natural England is to re-start its work on identifying possible extensions to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. Special areas such as the Northern Howgill Fells and the lower Lune Valley were excluded from the original boundaries but have long been considered to be worthy of National Park status. Initial work on the boundary extensions was put on hold in order to await the outcome of the South Downs National Park public inquiry, which could have had implications for Natural England’s approach to designation. Now that the future of the South Downs has been decided, Natural England will re-commence its work to identify possible extensions to the two Parks. A full public consultation is expected later this year.
For more information see the Natural England press release
31 March 2009: Green Light for South Downs National Park 
CNP and other members of the South Downs Campaign are celebrating the news that the Government has announced its intention to confirm the South Downs National Park in Sussex and Hampshire.
It has been more than 60 years in the making but today sees the South Downs become England’s 10th and the United Kingdom’s 15th National Park.
The Park will be established broadly along the lines proposed by the Countryside Agency almost seven years ago in 2002 and will bring greater protection and funding to the area. It includes the hotly contested Western Weald, Ditchling and Lewes, the subject of a recent campaign which saw Defra being sent nearly 20,000 postcards calling for the best possible National Park boundary. The Government should be congratulated for providing such a great gift to the nation.
Ruth Chambers, from CNP said:
“This timely announcement comes on the 60th anniversary of the 1949 Act which established the concept of National Parks in England and Wales. It shows that Sir Arthur Hobhouse and his committee in 1947 were right to recommend that the South Downs becomes a National Park and is a welcome addition to the family of National Parks which enjoys public support from all over the UK.”
For more information see the press release
Also see Defra's website for details about the South Downs National Park and for a map of the Park area.
The South Downs in pictures
25 March 2009: Road is going nowhere 
The campaign against the A628 Mottram-Tintwistle bypass in the Peak District National Park took a turn for the better with the Highways Agency’s withdrawal from the public inquiry into the bypass. If it had gone ahead, the scheme would have carved up the magnificent Dark Peak landscape of Longdendale.
This is the best opportunity that this area has had for many years to tackle its transport challenges in a fresh and sustainable way. The hope is that once the cash-hungry bypass stops hogging the debate, other lower cost and more appropriate solutions will get more air time and will hopefully catch the attention of decision makers and Government finance. A speed restriction, an area-wide lorry ban and meaningful investment in public transport should all now be prioritised, so that the traffic challenges of the Longdendale valley can be addressed once and for all.
“This was the only big road scheme threatening immense damage to a National Park, so the Highways Agency has done the right thing!” said Ruth Chambers, Acting Chief Executive of the Campaign for National Parks. “Public confidence in the Agency’s plans and the inquiry process had sunk to an all-time low and the Agency’s decision to withdraw from the inquiry is the perfect opportunity for a fresh start.”
Local people and groups including Friends of the Peak District and the Campaign for National Parks have battled against the bypass for over thirty years, as well as calling for better alternatives to be looked at properly. Although it is possible that the Highways Agency could submit new proposals for a similar scheme in the future, for the time being campaigners are relishing the victory.
For more information see the press release
25 March 2009: Environment alliance launches a campaign for a smart grid - not thousands more pylons
CNP, CPRE, CPRW and the NAAONB have joined forces to launch a new campaign for major investment in smart electricity networks to avoid intrusive new infrastructure. The campaign aims to influence the Government’s promised vision for a ‘smart grid’ and a new national planning policy on the future of the nation’s electricity transmission network. There are already 22,000 high voltage pylons carrying 4,375 miles of overhead transmission lines in England and Wales. The alliance is deeply concerned that plans outlined in a major recent Government-backed report indicate that there could be many more pylons which would extend across some of our most valued countryside.
Bill Bryson, CPRE’s President said:
‘This year we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A great birthday present would be to begin to remove the high voltage pylons that are within them or can be seen from them. Instead, National Grid are planning to put up yet more overhead lines in these areas’
The alliance’s manifesto A Countryside Friendly Smart Grid is calling for any new high voltage transmission lines to avoid AONBs, National Parks, World Heritage Sites and Green Belt land; the use of innovative new pylon designs; measures to reduce demand on the main electricity transmission grid; and new offshore wind farms to be connected to the National Grid using underground cables to existing substations.
Ruth Chambers, Acting Chief Executive of CNP, said:
‘The potential impacts of new transmission infrastructure must be taken into account when investment and planning decisions are made on new generating capacity. Otherwise, we risk generating power in places which leave little choice but to build in our protected landscapes. The feasibility of alternatives to new overhead lines must also be fully considered by decision makers.’
For more information see the press release
19 March 2009: Shadow Secretary of State addresses CNP meeting
Nick Herbert MP, the recently appointed Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has addressed a CNP meeting of National Park representatives and environmental organisations. This was the first time a Conservative Shadow Cabinet member has spoken openly about National Parks, and Mr Herbert was quizzed about the Party’s commitment to National Parks as well his own opinions on the issues affecting them. It was encouraging to hear that the Conservatives support the ethos of the Parks and their national status but it was also evident that further information is required to enhance their understanding about many National Park issues.
All political parties will soon be gathering information to inform the preparation of their election manifestos – it is essential that CNP provides politicians with clear briefings on the benefits that National Parks bring as well as the threats they face. Mr Herbert emphasised the importance of partnership and we hope that our meeting with him will act as a springboard for new collaboration between the Conservatives and National Parks. The designation of the South Downs National Park could be the perfect place to begin this.
18 March 2009: Longstone Edge saved
CNP and other countryside campaigners are celebrating a legal victory today which will help to save a beautiful landscape in the Peak District National Park being scarred by uncontrolled limestone quarrying. In the latest stage of a long-running legal battle over Backdale Quarry on Longstone Edge, the Court of Appeal ruled in favour of the Peak District National Park Authority and the Government.
Controversy has centred on interpreting an old planning permission which determined how much limestone could be extracted whilst getting out the mineral fluorspar. A previous public inquiry ruled that this should be limited to a ratio of two parts of limestone to one part of fluorspar. This was then overturned last year in the High Court. Since then the quarry operators MMC had resumed limestone quarrying with a vengeance, to the dismay of local residents, visitors and the Longstone Edge Coalition, a national group of campaigning organisations.
“This is fantastic news, and a huge relief,” said Andy Tickle, a Coalition spokesperson and Head of Planning at Friends of the Peak District. “We are really happy to see a more considered view has been taken about what the planning permission means, and that this iconic Peak District landscape is being saved.”
However, the Coalition warns that the situation may not be completely resolved yet.
“Although this is marvellous news, it isn’t necessarily the end of the story. We do not think that this welcome judgment alone is sufficient for quarrying to be controlled properly in the future. We’re now calling on DEFRA to buy out the planning permission completely. Only this will make Longstone Edge absolutely safe from future unscrupulous quarrying,” said Ruth Chambers, Acting Chief Executive of the Campaign for National Parks.
For more information see the press release
See the Peak District National Park Authority's press release and read the Court of Appeal judgment
18 March 2009: Bill Bryson delivers giant South Downs National Park postcard: will the government get the message?
Bill Bryson has presented a giant postcard to the Government on behalf of the South Downs Campaign, of which CNP is a member. The postcard, also signed by CNP President Ben Fogle and CNP Vice President Brian Blessed, is one of 18,500 sent to Government calling on it to confirm the widest possible boundary.
Bill Bryson said:
‘The postcard campaign has inspired a huge response from the public who support the National Park. The four areas shown on the postcard – the Western Weald, the chalk downland, the town of Lewes and the village of Ditchling are greatly deserving of National Park status. We hope that the Government will listen to the many thousands of voices that support this.’
The Government is expected to announce its decision on the South Downs National Park in early summer almost ten years after it promised the National Park as a ‘gift to the nation’ in 1999.
For more information see the press release
13 March 2009: CNP welcomes Lake District transport report
A new report has just been completed setting out the transport challenges for the Lake District National Park. The report is intended to form the basis of a sustainable transport framework for the National Park, which will lead to the development of a programme of sustainable transport networks and services for the area.
CNP welcomes the report as a step in the right direction towards addressing the transport and traffic problems in the Lake District, as these, as well as doing nothing for climate change, threaten many of the Park’s special qualities. Heavy car traffic disturbs the tranquillity and fresh air that people go to the Park to enjoy and the sight of it can almost destroy otherwise scenic areas. We want as many people as possible to continue to experience all that the Lake District has to offer – but to think about how they can get there and move around in lower-impact ways.
To do this they will need a choice of quality, affordable and convenient alternatives that make getting around easy – top quality and reliable public transport that connects the right places at the right times, first-class walking and cycling facilities that cater to a range of needs, and other innovative options to reach popular destinations throughout the Park.
We look to the Lake District Partnership over the next phases of work to turn the report into action, so that the Lake District becomes an exemplar of sustainable transport where people can make the most of their surroundings without detracting from them. This may need radical solutions to be considered and at this stage we would like to see nothing ruled out.
4 March 2009: Sherpa must stay
CNP and the Snowdonia Society are joining forces in a new campaign to secure the survival of the Snowdon Sherpa bus services throughout the coming year. Sherpa buses have been serving both local communities and visitors in getting around Snowdonia National Park for over thirty years, and have received funding from the Welsh Assembly Government for many to improve and expand the offer. They are used by tens of thousands of people – saving as many car journeys - every year.
While it is hoped that full summer services for 2009 will be able to continue, the rest of the year hangs in the balance as those in charge of running the service face unexpected cuts in funding from WAG. Snowdonia Green Key, the partnership responsible for running the Sherpa, is understood to have known that subsidy funding from WAG would decrease over time and eventually come to an end. However, the timing for this is disputed - leaving a funding shortfall for 2009/10.
“At a time when the Government is setting out bold ambitions to cut carbon emissions including from transport, it is ludicrous that lower-carbon sustainable transport like the Sherpa should come under threat owing to what appears to be miscommunication – leaving visitors to one of Wales’ most iconic settings with little choice but to drive”, says Alex Thursby, CNP's Policy Officer.
Director of the Snowdonia Society, Alun Pugh, says: “We know that local residents and tourists are deeply concerned that the Welsh Government has decided to pull the plug on this vital service. It is particularly galling that Ministers have chosen to continue pouring public money into subsidising flights from Holyhead to Cardiff while cutting an environmentally friendly service in Wales’ oldest National Park.“
For more information see the press release 
24 February 2009: Transport fund for Parks a win-win for all
CNP has called on the Secretary of State for Transport, Geoff Hoon, to provide dedicated funding to support sustainable transport for England’s National Parks. If the call is heeded millions of people could benefit from a range of new transport initiatives in the Parks, as well as improvements to existing services. This would lead to more frequent and integrated public transport, better quality and more extensive facilities for cyclists and walkers, well-located ‘Park and Ride’ schemes, and community transport services.
“Millions of people visit the Parks every year and this should continue to be encouraged”, Alex Thursby, CNP’s transport campaigner, says. “However, a staggering 90 per cent of visitors arrive by car, and residents are also highly dependent on using their own vehicles for day to day travel. High traffic levels have a major impact on the National Park environment, and no one enjoys being stuck in traffic – let alone having an otherwise peaceful walk or picnic destroyed by the noise and pollution that inevitably come with overloaded roads”, she continues.
By committing to a fund, the Government would give real substance to its own policies in relation to transport and to National Parks, as well as contributing to recently announced carbon reduction targets, better health outcomes and greater social equality.
Building on the success of the Government’s Sustainable Travel Towns, CNP is calling on the Government to fund one or more ‘Sustainable Travel National Parks’ at a rate of £1m per year for five years, with measures aimed at tackling the particular transport issues that those National Parks face. National Parks should be exemplars of sustainable transport provision – providing replicable and adaptable sustainable transport models for use throughout the National Parks and beyond, in other rural settings, visitor hot-spots and protected areas.
For more information see the press release
6 February 2009: Crunch-time for Longstone Edge
The fate of one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Peak District National Park – rapidly becoming scarred due to uncontrolled quarrying – is to be decided in a case to be heard in the Court of Appeal on Tuesday 10 February 2009.
The hearing is the culmination of a lengthy legal battle to try to halt the rate of limestone quarrying taking place at Backdale Quarry on Longstone Edge in Derbyshire. CNP hopes that the Court of Appeal will rule in favour of a stricter interpretation of the old mineral permission, taking into account the sensitive location in a National Park.
The Longstone Edge Coalition (LEC), a national group of campaigning organisations, is calling on Defra to be ready to intervene if the Court of Appeal ruling does not favour an immediate halt to the permanent damage.
A coalition spokesperson, Ruth Chambers, Acting Chief Executive of the Campaign for National Parks, said “Quarries like Backdale, whose planning permission dates from the 1950s, can cause enormous environmental damage to the countryside if they are not subject to modern environmental standards. This case must now be regarded as a priority for Government intervention if landscape protection in our National Parks is not to be made a laughing stock”.
For more information see the press release
27 January 2009: Military training on Dartmoor set to continue until 2033 - Campaign’s dismay at long licence
CNP has reacted with dismay to a Government announcement which effectively gives the green light to continuing military training in the Dartmoor National Park until 2033. This includes training with live ammunition which precludes public access to some of the most beautiful parts of the Dartmoor National Park for a significant part of the year.
Defence Minister Kevan Jones and Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies have concluded that there is a continuing need for military training on Dartmoor. There will be a review at the mid-point of the new training licence but this will not examine need and will instead provide an environmental stocktake.
Acting Chief Executive Ruth Chambers responded, “there is no doubt that our Armed Forces need the best possible preparation for battle and other deployments. However, the extent to which this essential need should be met by use of the rugged terrain and tranquil environments of our National Parks has never been subject to independent scrutiny and now, at least for Dartmoor, appears to be out of bounds for discussion until 2033.
Ruth Chambers concluded, “as well as ensuring that our troops are trained to the highest possible standards, the Government has a responsibility to protect our National Parks for current and future generations. It is very disappointing that in 2009, which is the 60th anniversary of the legislation that enabled our National Parks to come into being, National Park interests have not been given enough weight in this decision.
For more information see the press release
5 January 2009: Funding success for Mosaic
CNP is celebrating following the announcement of the first recipients of Natural England’s £25 million Access to Nature grant scheme. Access to Nature aims to encourage people to appreciate England’s countryside, particularly those who face social exclusion or people who currently have little or no contact with the natural environment.
CNP has been awarded £932,314 for Mosaic, a project which will build ethnic minority capacity for engagement with National Parks. The project will develop Community Champions for National Parks within black and ethnic minority groups in 20 cities. Mosaic will provide training to enable local Champions to organise visits to National Parks, promote the National Parks in their communities and establish cultural events and other activities to develop an interest in natural environments.
For more information please email Nina Arwitz or call her on 020 7924 4077 ext. 227.
For a list of CNP press releases click here
For press queries please contact:
Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy on
020 7924 4077 ext. 222