Putting a halt to destructive quarrying

The geology of the National Parks which gives them their dramatic and stunning landscapes can also make them attractive to the minerals industry.

In the 1940s, prior to the designation of our National Parks, many planning permissions for long-term mineral development within these areas were handed out.

CNP has researched the extent of this problem - read our publication. 

Today, the minerals industry continues to have a presence in many of the National Parks in England and Wales. The Peak District has the most quarrying activity along with the Yorkshire Dales and Dartmoor.

Government policy extends tight controls to new or extended quarries which must demonstrate a national need and a lack of alternative. CNP has an important role to play in fighting for these principles to be upheld, as we did at a recent inquiry into the proposed extensions of two quarries in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. We are active in the campaign to stop the development of a new sand pit in the South Downs (find out more).

There is also the problem of the adverse impact that established quarries can have on the National Parks which are often exacerbated by modern quarrying techniques that mean landscape is altered quickly and on a dramatic scale. Fighting quarrying activity at Backdale in the Peak District has been an important campaign for CNP in partnership with others.