UPDATE: March 2, 2020

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  • PLEASE sign our petition. It’s not too late… it’s not over until it’s over! – Sign here!

  • PLEASE email Grant Shapps MP – to ask him to reconsider and to make time to meet with NEG?

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What’s new

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NEG’s Westminster Events on 26th February

  • We had a simply fantastic day for our campaign in Westminster on 26th February

  • We held a cross-party sponsored event for MPs and Peers in Portcullis House, with MPs from different areas of the Arc and beyond attending.  Sincere thanks to Layla Moran MP (Lib Dem, Oxford West & Abingdon), Greg Smith MP (Conservative, Buckingham) and Daniel Zeichner MP (Labour, Cambridge) for co-hosting this event and making this truly a-political.  And to Greg and Layla’s offices for all their logistical support

  • Both Layla and Greg were also able to join us on the walk to Downing Street, which was a huge success.  We carried endangered bird lanterns, made by Alan Horton/Brill Crafts and some of the younger members of NEG, and a large banner and signs to make our presence felt

  • We delivered a near 15,000 strong petition to 10 Downing Street… to the sound of “Scrap the Expressway” and cheering from our fellow walkers outside the gates!

  • We had BBC and ITV film crews film us and interview MPs and some of NEG.  You can see the excellent coverage on BBC South Today (Oxford), BBC Look East (West) and ITV Anglia, here here

  • We were also on BBC Three Counties Radio and Mix 96 and in some local press prior to our event

  • Our own film of the day can be found on our site here

  • Huge thanks to the whole team who made this event happen and those who could join us on the day

  • It’s fair to say we left the government in no doubt that there is no need and no support for the Ox-Cam Expressway and over inflated housing targets for the Arc.  Build the railway.  Scrap the Expressway.  Build housing in line with local need!

Has the Expressway been Cancelled?  No! 

  • There have been more unofficial comments from conservative MPs that the Ox-Cam Expressway is going to be cancelled.  But until this is officially announced we must continue our fight. 

  • An announcement about the Ox-Cam Expressway could be linked with the budget on 11th March

  • What about the housing?  Nothing has been said about the staggering level of houses the government wants in the counties along the Arc.  Some MPs have claimed that Local Authorities have complete control over the housing levels and the 1 million target is misleading.  However, the one million houses target has been repeated many times, including by Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.  We believe the government has more power over housing targets than suggested.  E.g. the government could decide to use “growth deals” or development corporations.

  • 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!

In the News

  • Excellent coverage on BBC Look East, of NEG Woburn Sands event and interview with Greg Smith, and report in MK Citizen.  See the footage in our news feed here

  • Oxford Times reports on John Howell “anticipating” that the Ox-Cam Expressway will be cancelled.  With comments from Layla Moran & Anneliese Dodds.

  • There was some coverage of our Westminster event in local Oxon papers and Mix 96, prior to our event.

  • The other big story came on 27th Feb when the Court of Appeal ruled the government's decision to allow the expansion of Heathrow Airport to be unlawful because it did not take climate commitments into account.  This could have implications for our campaign and any approval or road schemes going forward

 Further NEG activities

  • We continue awareness-raising with an NEG Woburn Sands events and our first NEG meeting in Cambridge

  • Further events in Wavendon 5th March and Great Brickhill 12th March, are planned.

 

What’s next

  • Driving petition sign ups on site

  • Review of impact of LHR 3rd runway decision judgement

  • Budget on 11th March

  • Continue working with the Stronger Together group and working on a programme of activities for schools


Guest Userupdate, march 2020