THE COUNCIL OF NORTHERN CAVING CLUBS

The council was formed in 1963 to negotiate access to certain important caves and potholes which had been closed to cavers. The access agreements reached with the respective landowners for Leck and Casterton Fells, Penyghent, Fountains Fell and more recently Mongo Gill Hole, Birks Fell Cave and Washfold Pot, all require the council to issue permits and to notify the owners in advance of the bookings made. The administrative work involved with these agreements has always been one of the main functions the C.N.C.C.

In addition, the council has gradually had to assume the role of a general representative body for recognised caving clubs active in the north of Britain. As such it is the regional constituent of the British Caving Association (BCA), the forerunner of which, the NCA, was first proposed by the C.N.C.C. in 1964, five years before it's constitution was first accepted by all other bodies involved.

The affairs of the council are managed by the elected officers and committee, made up of 14 representatives from 14 full member clubs. The committee appoints Meets Secretaries to deal with permits. It also invites to it's meetings observers from the British Cave Rescue Council, British Cave Research Association and a warden from the National Parks Authority. C.N.C.C. delegates attend the meetings of various committees of the N.C.A., Yorkshire & Humberside Sports Council, English Nature and the North West Federation of Sport and Recreation.

The C.N.C.C. initiated the anchor re-placement program, and is now actively involved in the placement, testing and research of anchors and resins, through the C.N.C.C. Technical Group. The C.N.C.C. is also responsible for the testing and documentation, of the Eco anchors and fixed aids.

CNCC Technical Group website:
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/members/andy.mccarron/cncctech.htm