UPDATE: November 25, 2019

It’s been a hugely eventful couple of weeks and things are ramping up. The Conservative party have announced a “priority review” of the Expressway, whilst also saying that the 1 million houses can be built with or without the road! Of course, election candidates have been playing this to their advantage, some even suggesting that it has already been cancelled. So we must work doubly hard to ensure that nobody misunderstands. We still need to spread the word far and wide and ensure that every single politician commits to ditching the plans for both the road and the 1 million homes.

Actions

  • PLEASE sign our new petition! Every signature adds strength to our campaign to cancel the expressway and housing targets.

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What’s new

Conservative party announce Ox-Cam Expressway review

  • The Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, announced on 20th November that “if elected, a majority Conservative government will review as a priority the Oxford to Milton Keynes and M1 section of the proposed Oxford-Cambridge Expressway.”  He added that “We will not allow the scheme to proceed if there is not a strong case that it will boost jobs, prosperity and has local support.”  We are encouraged that the Conservative party appear to be listening, but we are not reassured.  It is fantastic that this is now an election issue, but

  • PLEASE NOTE:

    • this is a pledge to review, not to cancel, and we fear a review such as that for HS2!

    • Mr Shapps confirmed to BBC Oxford that Local Authorities have said that they can deliver the target of one million houses along the arc without the expressway.

    • The housing target would increase housing stock for Oxfordshire >100% by 2050, affected parts of Buckinghamshire by 66%, of Northamptonshire by 74% and of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Huntingdonshire by 81%.  These growth rates are vastly greater than the Office of National Statistics predicted average 16% population increase to 2050. The impact of this on our environment, pollution and infrastructure, should not be underestimated!

  • So, the campaign is not over, not until the Expressway and target of one million houses is cancelled.

  • NEG has written to Mr Shapps to reiterate our position that the Expressway and housing targets should be cancelled but, if there is to be an expressway review, the NEG formally request to be part of it.

 

The NEG Election Challenge! 

  • On 17th November, 200 of us gathered on Brill Hill in Buckinghamshire to launch our NEG Election Challenge!

  • NEG is challenging every parliamentary candidate along the Arc to support our campaign, demanding that the new Government scraps the Ox-Cam Expressway and inappropriate housing targets, and instead invests in public transport systems such as a fully electrified East-West Rail.  Build the railway.  Stop the expressway!

  • At time of writing, 23 of 98 candidates have pledged support from 15 of the 20 Constituencies and from a range of political parties.  To see the challenge letter and which candidates are campaign Supporters and which are not, or have yet to reply, visit noexpressway.org/our-supporters. 

  • A huge thank you to all who made our launch event in Brill such a success. Our picture and message have made it into the local press in Oxon and Bucks! 

NEG Petition to STOP the Expressway!

  • If you haven’t already done so, PLEASE sign our petition now! And get everyone you know to sign it too!

  • Every sign up makes our campaign stronger.   

Further NEG activities

  • We continue the awareness-raising campaign, with presentations at Wotton Underwood and Grendon Underwood/Edgcott village meetings.  

 What’s next

  • Driving petition sign ups on site

  • Awaiting feedback from Grant Shapps

  • Meeting with Highways England to discuss the consultation process - delayed by HE

  • Continue working with the Stronger Together group and working on a programme of activities for schools

Guest Userupdate, november 2019