UPDATE: February 17, 2020
Actions
PLEASE sign our petition! – here
PLEASE email Grant Shapps MP – to ask him to reconsider and to make time to meet with NEG, wording and email address here
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What’s new
Has the Expressway been Cancelled?
No!
Iain Stewart MP for Milton Keynes South unofficially said at a meeting on 7th Feb, with local councillors and NEG Woburn Sands members, that the Ox-Cam Expressway has been cancelled, but not announced
However, when Daniel Zeichner MP for Cambridge challenged Boris Johnson to announce that it has been scrapped, at PMQ’s on Wednesday 12th February, the PM said “I must ask the Honourable Gentleman to wait to contain his impatience until the Budget and he will learn more about the National Infrastructure Plan.” No confirmation
The reshuffle has changed people in key positions. These changes might have an impact on what the government announce in the budget and the date of the budget previously slated for 11th March
Have you emailed Grant Shapps yet, to ask him to reconsider and meet with NEG to discuss his “priority review”? The attached letter and email address make it easier! Every email makes a difference!
On 26th February are holding a two-part event in Westminster!
1 - Taking our petition to No. 10
We’ve joined forces with Antony Melville of RainForest Saver, and originator of the change.org anti-expressway petition, to deliver both ours and his petitions to 10 Downing Street on 26th February. We will walk from Old Palace Yard, opposite Parliament, to Downing Street, some MPs will be joining us!
If you’ve not already done so, please add your name to our petition and ask all your family, friends and neighbours to as well!
2 - Drop-in event for MPs & Peers
NEG are also holding a drop-in event for MPs and Peers to come and find out more about the destruction that the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway and target of one million houses would cause to our environment, wildlife, health and communities. All MPs have been invited
We are delighted to have cross-party and cross-Arc support, with event co-hosts Layla Moran (Lib Dem, Oxford West & Abingdon), Greg Smith (Conservative, Buckingham) and Daniel Zeichner (Labour, Cambridge)
CAN YOU REMIND YOUR MP TO COME? If your MP is not one of our co-sponsors, you can remind them how important this event is and that you’d really like them to attend. You can find out your MP’s email address here and either send an email in your own words or use the letter wording we’ve prepared here. Remember to add your name and address to all emails.
In the News
The Ox-Cam Expressway and housing targets and NEG have been mentioned several times in the House of Commons with questions from Anneliese Dodds, Daniel Zeichner, Layla Moran and Greg Smith. Greg Smith also asked for an Ox-Cam Expressway debate in the house and made a ‘recess’ speech on the topic
NEG has had a letter published in the Oxford Times and has been mentioned in the Oxford Mail and all it’s sister local Oxfordshire based papers, and the Cherwell (Student paper). NEG Woburn Sands has also been approached for coverage of upcoming events. This all adds to the profile of the campaign
Further NEG activities
We continue awareness-raising with NEG Woburn Sands having events at Woburn Sands market, and a meeting in Aspley Guise and more events lined up
Another key member for our youth campaign, Bella from Ashfold School, did a fantastic job presenting to her school about the Ox-Cam Expressway and housing targets. Well done Bella!
What’s next
Driving petition sign ups on site
Final preparations for and holding our Westminster event
Working to get meeting with Grant Shapps to discuss the review and NEG’s involvement
Continue working with the Stronger Together group and working on a programme of activities for schools