UPDATE: December 9, 2019
With just a few days to go until polling day, there has been lots of media coverage of the Ox-Cam Expressway and it has become a significant election issue. We are thrilled to have received pledges of support from 45 our of 98 candidates along the arc, but as you’ll see below, the fight is far from over...
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What’s new (for full details click here)
NEG challenge to candidates on the Ox-Cam arc
Out of 98 candidates in 20 constituencies across the arc, 45 candidates have pledged support for our campaign so far, with one candidate refusing to support. That’s nearly half of all candidates across the arc!
Candidates have pledged from the Brexit, Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, as well as independent candidates. See who’s pledged in your constituency here
The campaign & the election
We are delighted to report that the Oxford-Cambridge expressway has become a significant election issue
We are trying to get statements from each party on their current position on the expressway and over-inflated housing target
Information we’ve received is published on our news feed here
Currently Party positions appear to be:
Brexit – Official position unknown; however, four of five candidates along arc have pledged support
Conservative – Review as a priority
Green – Cancel expressway and statement on housing
Labour – Cancel expressway, no statement on housing
Liberal Democrat – Anti and want consultation where people can say No to it. Awaiting fuller statement
A review does not equal cancellation! Unfortunately, there’s been confusion as some Conservative candidates have said the expressway is cancelled or halted, or that it will be, but that this couldn’t be announced formally as it would break “purdah” rules prior to the election. To be clear – the Conservative party has not announced a cancellation. It could have done so either before the purdah period or in the party manifesto. Neither was done
NEG has asked Grant Shapps that it is involved in any review – Disappointingly Grant Shapps did not respond to our letter of 22nd November. After following up on 4th December requesting an urgent meeting, we were told Grant Shapps did not have the time before the election, despite this being a key election issue
NEG is a-political – An image of NEG’s sign was used in a candidate’s campaign flyer in Henley constituency. We want to make it clear to everyone that NEG does not endorse any political party or candidate! We’ve written to the candidate in this regard. We are against the expressway scheme whichever party supports it
So, the campaign is not over, not until the Expressway and the target of one million houses are cancelled.
In the Press
No Expressway Group has had good media coverage over the last two weeks with coverage in Oxon and Bucks publications, coverage of NEG on BBC Radio Oxford, BBC Three Counties Radio as well as on BBC South Today and BBC Look East. See NEG news to catch up on coverage here.
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!
Sign up here! Every sign up makes our campaign stronger. Some people are saying they have already signed ‘a petition about the expressway’. This is a new petition on the NEG website (not on change.org or Government website) and will give us the chance to stay in touch with you about petition news and the NEG campaign, if you wish.
Further NEG activities
We continue the awareness-raising campaign with more signs going up and presentations at North Marston and Woburn/Apsley Guise village meetings
What’s next
Driving petition sign ups on site
Working to drive media engagement in the campaign
Meeting with Highways England to discuss the consultation process - delayed to Jan 21st by Highways England
Continue working with the Stronger Together group and working on a programme of activities for schools
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.