PRESS RELEASE: Campaigners disappointed Grant Shapps doesn't see discussing Ox-Cam Expressway as a priority, Dec 22, 2019
For immediate release
CAMPAIGNERS DISAPPOINTED GRANT SHAPPS DOESN’T SEE DISCUSSING OX-CAM EXPRESSWAY AS A PRIORITY
The biggest campaign group opposing the construction of the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway and associated one million new homes – the ‘No Expressway Group’ (NEG) – is disappointed to receive an email from the Transport Secretary’s Department which indicates Grant Shapps is too busy to meet with NEG to discuss the Ox-Cam Expressway review that he pledged as a priority during the election campaign.
NEG maintains its position that the Expressway and the grossly over-inflated target of one million houses across the Arc should be cancelled. NEG has written to Grant Shapps three times, on 22nd November, 4th and 17th December, to restate the group’s position and to formally request to be a part of any priority review and that the review itself should be extended to include the housing targets. We have requested a meeting with Grant Shapps to discuss NEG’s involvement and how and when any review will happen. So far there has been no information shared about any review.
NEG spokesperson Olivia Field said ‘It is really disappointing that having been asked to contact the Transport Secretary again after the election, we have now been told he is “unable to commit to a meeting”. We would like him to reconsider as people all along the Ox-Cam Arc are really frustrated and deeply concerned about this scheme and need clarity of what is happening and when. They were told there would be a priority review but no information has been forthcoming, and no time has been made available to discuss this with NEG. So, we have asked supportive MP’s along the Arc to intercede with Grant Shapps on our behalf and to ask again that he makes time to meet with NEG. We have also today sent an email to our supporters asking that they too contact Grant Shapps to ask that he thinks again and agrees to meet with NEG.’
Ms Field continued, ‘when Grant Shapps announced the priority review of the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, he said he had concerns about the benefits of the scheme being “finely balanced against its costs” and that if re-elected he would review the scheme as it might not be worth going ahead with it. NEG has conducted a forensic analysis of the government documents and agree the business case published by Highways England in September 2018 is very weak indeed. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss the findings of our analysis with Grant Shapps.’
NEG is continuing to urge people not to see the Government’s announcement during the election campaign as ‘game over’. It is not. It’s vital that as many local people as possible make their voices heard by supporting NEG at www.noexpressway.org where they can sign a petition to demand the Government abandons plans for the Ox-Can Expressway and associated over inflated housing targets.
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Melissa Wright
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NOTES TO THE EDITOR
The Oxford to Cambridge Expressway scheme is based on the idea of opening-up the countryside for development, including an aspirational target of one million new houses by 2050. The National Infrastructure Commission’s 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 increases in housing stock for Oxfordshire >100% by 2050, affected parts of Buckinghamshire by 66%, of Northamptonshire by 74% and of Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Huntingdonshire by 81%. These growth rates are vastly greater than the Office of National Statistics predicted average 16% population increase in England to 2050. The impact of this on our environment, pollution and infrastructure, should not be underestimated! All those homes need infrastructure: schools, clinics, hospitals, water and electricity supplies, waste and sewage disposal etc. For example, 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, i.e. ultimately 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?
MPs across Ox-Cam Arc who have pledged support to NEG’s campaign
Constituency & MPs
Buckingham - Greg Smith
Cambridge - Daniel Zeichner
Cambridgeshire South - Anthony Browne
Milton Keynes North - Ben Everitt
Oxford East - Anneliese Dodds
Oxford West and Abingdon - Layla Moran
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 to 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.