NEWS: BBC News July 24th, 2019
Oxford to Cambridge 'brain belt': Councils sign gagging orders.
BBC News reports that Oxfordshire County Council, Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire District Councils have signed Non Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) with Highways England. So have Milton Keynes Council.
Highways England said “the agreements allow organisations "to identify, develop and test potential viable route options" before putting them out to public consultation.” However, the councils are the only official Highways England Stakeholders who are democratically elected and are supposed to represent and have a responsibility to the community.
Why have these councils signed a document which means they can’t have open dialogue with the communities they represent?
When are our councils going to seek our input and local knowledge so that they can contribute to Highways England’s project effectively?
You can read their full report here.
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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.
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