PRESS RELEASE: CAMPAIGNERS ASK ALL PARTIES TO COMMIT TO CANCEL OX-CAM EXPRESSWAY AND OVER INFLATED HOUSING TARGET
Following NEG’s open letter to Grant Shapps, 22nd November, Campaigners ask Labour, Lib Dem, Green and Brexit parties for formal statement on Ox-Cam Expressway and housing targets
The leading campaign group opposing the construction of the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway and associated one million new homes – the ‘No Expressway Group’ (NEG) - has today written open letters to Andy McDonald, Labour Party Transport spokesperson, Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat Party Spokesperson, Caroline Russell, Green Party Spkesperson and Nigel Farage, Brexit Party, asking for them to provide a statement on their parties’ position on the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway and its associated target of one million new homes along the Arc.
Following on from the Conservative Party pledge to have a priority review of the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway scheme on 20th November, it has been reported today in the Cambridge Independent that the Labour Party has just signed off a policy “to scrap the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway”.
NEG is now asking all major parties to confirm their position not only on the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway scheme, but also on the associated target of one million new houses along the arc, and investment in electrification of East West Rail.
NEG spokesperson Olivia Field said, ‘the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway and its associated target of one million new homes has become a major election issue, rightly so as it threatens the health and quality of life of c3.3 million people[1] across a swathe of the country making up the Oxford to Cambridge Arc. There is very strong opposition all across the arc to both the proposed Expressway and vastly over-inflated housing targets. So, it is vital in the lead up to the General Election that local people know, not only where their local candidates stand, but critically the explicit polity of each party.’
The Oxford to Cambridge Expressway scheme is based on the idea of opening-up the countryside for development of an aspirational target of one million new homes by 2050. The National Infrastructure Commission 5th Studio Report shows a split by both region and type of housing across the Arc. The target includes ‘unlocked’ homes enabled by the Expressway, London commuter homes and those in Local Authority plans. We agree more housing is needed, but not increases in 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! All those homes need infrastructure: schools, clinics, hospitals, water and electricity supplies, waste and sewage disposal etc. e.g., one form entry primary school is required for every 800 new houses. That’s 1,250 such schools across the Arc for those one million new houses by 2050. Developers. make only minimal contributions to the real cost of infrastructure, which is ultimately borne by the Government, or by tax- and rate-payers.
England has destroyed 97% of its wildflower meadows since the 1930s and more ancient woodlands in the forty years after WWII than in the previous 400 years. How much more destruction can our environment take without catastrophic declines in our life support systems?
Ms Field added, ‘We are urging local people to put pressure on their local candidates and in turn all parties in the General Election to pledge support to the NEG campaign. It’s vital that as many local people as possible make their voice heard by supporting us at www.noexpressway.org where they can sign our petition to demand the new Government abandons plans for the Ox-Can Expressway and associated over inflated housing targets.’
Ends
For further information please contact the press office on
Melissa Wright
07811 167190
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
NEG letters sent o 25th November 2019 to Andy McDonald, Wera Hobhouse, Caroline Russell and Nigel Farage attached.
About:
The NO EXPRESSWAY GROUP believes that there is NO need for an Oxford-Cambridge Expressway, nor the over-inflated housing targets associated with it, and we will actively campaign against it and support the many other organisations with the same objectives.
Our environment is a national asset which should be protected for all us, our health and well-being. This is a national and not just a local issue and we will continue strive to educate people about the threats to our countryside posed by the planned Expressway and its associated housing and development. We will fight to protect our countryside and its wildlife for the health and enjoyment of all future generations.
[1] As identified by Highways England in Minutes of a meeting between Highways England and Stakeholders in March 2018
We urgently need your help.
Your donations are needed now, to help us run the campaign and pay for political consultants and other professional experts to bring this campaign to the attention of Westminster as well as local politicians.
No Expressway Group believes there is no need for an Oxford-Cambridge Expressway, nor the over-inflated housing targets associated with it, and we will actively campaign against it and support other organisations with the same objectives.
Our environment is a national asset which is critical for everyone’s health and well-being. We must not let it be destroyed.
Your donations help us to spread information about the Expressway, run and build support for the campaign:
£10 could pay for one roadside Correx poster
£15 could pay for one roadside poster on a wooden stake
£20 could pay for one A1 printed colour poster for our pagoda display
£35 could pay for 250 A5 printed leaflets for the campaign
£70 could pay for one pole and two panels for our travelling pagoda display
£150 could pay for one feather flag for our travelling pagoda
£180 could pay to run this website for one year
£300 could pay for a 3 minutes of an Expressway Story
£500 could pay for a 5 minutes of an Expressway Story
A greater or other amount could contribute to the cost of professional support for our campaign in general and in preparation for Planning Inspectorate hearings
Please note:
The No Expressway Group has a group bank account to which the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer are signatories. The group will publish accounts on noexpressway.org each year which will be audited by an accountant from outside the NEG group.
If any funds are left at the end of the campaign, these will be donated equally between RSPB and BBOWT.