“Given the inadequate response from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to the concern of this Council regarding the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, this Council asks the Leader to write to the Minister of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Highways England in the following terms:
Oxfordshire County Council will work with Highways England on the development of the vision for the English Economic Heartland and the Oxford to Cambridge Arc on the understanding that they will expedite the realisation of the East West Rail Link.
The development of the railway line will ensure the delivery of the growth and housing required, without the environmental impact of a road cutting across the centre of rural England.
Building the Expressway flies in the face of Oxfordshire’s commitment to reduce the use of the car. An action which is necessary to tackle the Climate Change Emergency, which Local Government, including Oxfordshire, has signed up to.
Oxfordshire does not support the building of the Expressway irrespective of which route is chosen.”
Minutes:
Councillor John Sanders moved and Councillor Liz Brighouse seconded the following Motion:
“Given the inadequate response from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to the concern of this Council regarding the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, this Council asks the Leader to write to the Minister of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Highways England in the following terms:
Oxfordshire County Council will work with Highways England on the development of the vision for the English Economic Heartland and the Oxford to Cambridge Arc on the understanding that they will expedite the realisation of the East West Rail Link.
The development of the railway line will ensure the delivery of the growth and housing required, without the environmental impact of a road cutting across the centre of rural England.
Building the Expressway flies in the face of Oxfordshire’s commitment to reduce the use of the car. An action which is necessary to tackle the Climate Change Emergency, which Local Government, including Oxfordshire, has signed up to.
Oxfordshire does not support the building of the Expressway irrespective of which route is chosen.”
Councillor Tim Bearder moved and Councillor Bob Johnston seconded the following amendment to the Motion as shown in bold italics and strikethrough below:
“Given the inadequate response from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to the concern of this Council regarding the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway this Council asks the Leader to write to MHCLG and Highways England in the following terms:
Oxfordshire County Council will work with Highways
England on the development of the
vision to create a vision
for the England Economic Heartland and the Oxford to Cambridge Arc
on the understanding that they will expedite the realisation of the
East West Rail Link.
The development of the railway line will ensure the
delivery of the sensible growth and housing
required to meet local need. Without
the environmental impact of a road cutting across the centre of
rural England.
Building the Expressway and a million associated houses flies in the face of Oxfordshire’s commitment to reduce the use of the car. An action which is necessary to tackle the Climate Change Emergency which Local Government, including Oxfordshire, has signed up to.
Oxfordshire does not support the building of the Expressway irrespective of which route is chosen or the planned rate of house building, which would see the numbers of houses in the county double in size over the next 30 years and cause untold environmental harm.”
Following debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was lost by 45 votes to 11.
The substantive vote was then put to the vote and was carried by 36 votes to 11, with 8 abstentions.
RESOLVED: (36 votes to 11, 8 abstentions)
Given the inadequate response from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government to the concern of this Council regarding the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, this Council asks the Leader to write to the Minister of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Highways England in the following terms:
Oxfordshire County Council will work with Highways England on the development of the vision for the English Economic Heartland and the Oxford to Cambridge Arc on the understanding that they will expedite the realisation of the East West Rail Link.
The development of the railway line will ensure the delivery of the growth and housing required, without the environmental impact of a road cutting across the centre of rural England.
Building the Expressway flies in the face of Oxfordshire’s commitment to reduce the use of the car. An action which is necessary to tackle the Climate Change Emergency, which Local Government, including Oxfordshire, has signed up to.
Oxfordshire does not support the building of the Expressway irrespective of which route is chosen.