Agenda item

“Most people accept that building more roads creates more traffic. What is certain is that building an Expressway to connect a million new homes, in what will become the country’s first linear conurbation, will definitely bring more traffic. What it will not do is relieve the congestion on the A34. It is obvious that any temporary, short-term relief that might occur on the A34 is being used as a “stalking horse” to railroad through a much bigger project designed to create the UK’s own Silicon Valley in an arc outside the M25 and between our two prominent University cities. This radical experiment, together with all the building that will be needed to pay for it will impact on the local environment, existing infrastructure and the climate, and is deeply concerning for Oxfordshire residents.

Council instructs that the Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment to jointly write to the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government – demanding that a full consultation is carried out asking local residents if they want an Expressway and associated construction before any route is considered.

The Leader and Cabinet Member should also ask the Minister whether the million extra houses outlined in the National Infrastructure Commission's vision for housing along the route of the arc are, in addition to, or included in, the 100,000 houses planned for by the Oxfordshire authorities outlined in the growth deal.”

Councillor Tim Bearder sought the approval of Councillor to accept the amendment to his motion.

Following some dissent, Council put the motion to the vote and it was lost by 31 votes to 29. 

Councillor Tim Bearder moved and Councillor Bob Johnston seconded the following Motion:

“Most people accept that building more roads creates more traffic. What is certain is that building an Expressway to connect a million new homes, in what will become the country’s first linear conurbation, will definitely bring more traffic. What it will not do is relieve the congestion on the A34. It is obvious that any temporary, short-term relief that might occur on the A34 is being used as a “stalking horse” to railroad through a much bigger project designed to create the UK’s own Silicon Valley in an arc outside the M25 and between our two prominent University cities. This radical experiment, together with all the building that will be needed to pay for it will impact on the local environment, existing infrastructure and the climate, and is deeply concerning for Oxfordshire residents.

Council instructs that the Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment to jointly write to the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government – demanding that a full consultation is carried out asking local residents if they want an Expressway and associated construction before any route is considered.

The Leader and Cabinet Member should also ask the Minister whether the million extra houses outlined in the National Infrastructure Commission's vision for housing along the route of the arc are, in addition to, or included in, the 100,000 houses planned for by the Oxfordshire authorities outlined in the growth deal.”

Councillor John Sanders moved and Councillor Liz Brighouse seconded an amendment as shown in bold italics/strikethrough below:

“Most people accept that building more roads creates causes more traffic. What is certain is that building an Expressway between Oxford and Cambridge to connect a million new homes, in what will become the country’s first linear conurbation, will definitely bring more traffic. What it will not do is relieve the congestion on the A34. It is obvious that any temporary, short-term relief that might occur on the A34 is being used as a “stalking horse” to railroad through a much bigger project designed to create the UK’s own Silicon Valley in an arc outside the M25 and between our two prominent University cities. This radical experiment, together with all the building that will be needed to pay for it will impact on the local environment, existing infrastructure and the climate, and is deeply concerning for Oxfordshire residents.

Council instructs that the Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment to jointly write to the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government – demanding that a full consultation is carried out asking local residents if they want an Expressway and associated construction before any route is considered.

The Leader and Cabinet Member should also ask the Minister whether the million extra houses outlined in the National Infrastructure Commission's vision for housing along the route of the arc are, in addition to, or included in, the 100,000 houses planned for by the Oxfordshire authorities outlined in the growth deal.”

1. Bring more traffic to Oxfordshire;

2. Add further pressures to existing infrastructure; and

3. Have a negative effect on Carbon output and the lives of Oxfordshire residents.

Spending vast sums connecting up communities would be done more effectively and at lower cost by improving rail provision.

Following debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was lost by 31 votes to 29.

Councillor Arash Fatemian moved and Councillor Eddie Reeves seconded the following amendment as set out in bold italics/strikethrough below:

“Most people accept that building more roads creates more traffic. What is certain is that building an Expressway to connect a million new homes, in what will become the country’s first linear conurbation, will definitely bring more traffic. What it will not do is relieve the congestion on the A34. It is obvious that any temporary, short-term relief that might occur on the A34 is being used as a “stalking horse” to railroad through a much bigger project designed to create the UK’s own Silicon Valley in an arc outside the M25 and between our two prominent University cities. This radical experiment, together with all the building that will be needed to pay for it will impact on the local environment, existing infrastructure and the climate, and is deeply concerning for Oxfordshire residents.

Council instructs that the Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment to jointly write to the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government – demanding that a full fuller consultation is carried out asking local residents if they want an Expressway and associated construction before any route is considered.

The Leader and Cabinet Member should also ask the Minister whether the million extra houses outlined in the National Infrastructure Commission's vision for housing along the route of the arc are, in addition to, or included in, the 100,000 houses planned for by the Oxfordshire authorities outlined in the growth deal.”

Following debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was carried by 32 votes to 28.

The motion as amended was put to the vote and was carried by 47 to 0, with 13 abstentions.

RESOLVED: (47 votes to 0, 13 abstentions)

“Most people accept that building more roads creates more traffic. Council instructs that the Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment to jointly write to the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government – demanding that a fuller consultation is carried out asking local residents if they want an Expressway and associated construction before any route is considered.

The Leader and Cabinet Member should also ask the Minister whether the million extra houses outlined in the National Infrastructure Commission's vision for housing along the route of the arc are, in addition to, or included in, the 100,000 houses planned for by the Oxfordshire authorities outlined in the growth deal.”