PRESS RELEASE: Campaigners challenge candidate to pledge support to NEG after using their sign in campaign materials
CAMPAIGNERS CHALLENGE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE TO PLEDGE SUPPORT TO THEIR CAMPAIGN AFTER HE USES THEIR SIGN IN HIS CAMPAIGN MATERIALS
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 an open letter to John Howell, Conservative candidate in the Henley constituency regarding his unsanctioned use of NEG’s campaign sign, logo and website address in his campaign materials, as NEG does not support or endorse any candidate or party at this or any other political election.
Furthermore, NEG should not have been linked to a leaflet which risks both housing targets and the status of the expressway project being misinterpreted. The aspirational housing figure for the Arc of one million homes was re-stated by Robert Jenrick as the Government’s target in his role as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 29th July in a letter to John Bercow. This target is to 2050 and is one reason why not all of these housing figures are in Local Plans, which only cover the period to the mid-2030s. It misrepresents the facts further to state “Expressway Halted” on the leaflet. A review has been announced, and Grant Shapps has been reported as saying the Government is “now tilted against the plan”. Neither a review nor ‘tilting’ is the same as cancellation or halting of plans. Yes, we are in a period of purdah, however, the Government, after more than nine years in power, could have made an announcement before the purdah period, or the Conservative Party could have pledged to cancel it within its manifesto.
NEG spokesperson Olivia Field said, ‘whilst we appreciate John Howell’s recognition of NEG’s importance in the campaign against the expressway and housing targets, and for the work it has been doing to raise awareness across the arc, this is not a party-political issue. NEG works hard to stay a-political but John Howell’s “Election special” leaflet brings that into question and associates the group with a misrepresentation of the facts, at a time when voters need to know that both the facts and their concerns are genuinely being addressed. That’s why NEG is seeking the formal support for NEG’s campaign of all 98 candidates in the 20 constituencies along the arc. So far, 43 candidates from across all parties have pledged their support and only one has refused. John Howell has not yet pledged his support for our campaign or even responded to our letters to him requesting this support, first on the 15th November and then, as a reminder, on 1st December 2019.’
Ms Field added ‘I look forward to hearing if John Howell will pledge support to NEG’s campaign. The voters are waiting!’
Ends
For further information please contact the press office on
Melissa Wright
07811 167190
NEG letter sent to John Howell on 5th December 2019.
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
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 >100% growth in Oxon & 65% growth in affected areas of Bucks by 2050 (compared with the 16% predicted for the nation as a whole, by the Office of National Statistics). 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?
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.