Otmoor is a unique and beautiful habitat of rare wetland and grazing floodplain,1000 acres of nature reserve that is home to over sixty protected species. Just 50 miles from the urban sprawl of London, Otmoor is a conservation area the government's own laws were designed to protect.
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Now the government threatens to build a motorway here that would engulf this sanctuary.
One of the proposed routes would cut across miles of Green Belt land, passing through ancient woodlands on its way to Otmoor.
Because the government has turned down our demands for a Public Enquiry, the decision will now be made behind closed doors.
Please sign this petition to demand protection for this national treasure and save Otmoor for future generations.
www.SaveOtmoor.org
#SaveOtmoor
Wednesday 12th September 2018
The Government has announced the preferred corridor for the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway, and has ruled out construction in the area of the Otmoor nature reserve.
Protecting the environment and the places people love is central to how the Government develops and builds a major new road such as this. We recognise that creating any new road infrastructure carries environmental challenges, and the Government is committed to finding solutions that have the least effect and where possible avoid, mitigate and minimise the effects on the natural environment.
The selection of corridor B as the preferred corridor for the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway accounts for environmental and heritage designations, such as those which apply to Otmoor. The Department for Transport and Highways England will continue to work closely with Natural England, Historic England, the Environment Agency, The Wildlife Trust and local nature partnerships to integrate any route as far as possible into the landscape.
The Government will also continue to work together with other key stakeholders including, but not limited to, local highway and planning authorities, community and residents’ groups, and environmental bodies, to develop the mitigation strategy as the scheme develops over time.
You can read more about the corridor announcement here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/oxford-to-cambridge-expressway-road-scheme-update
And more detail about the corridor itself here: http://assets.highwaysengland.co.uk/roads/road-projects/Oxford+to+Cambridge+expressway/Oxford+to+Cambridge+Expressway+Corridor+overview+booklet.pdf
The Highways England Oxford to Cambridge Expressway webpage (at: highwaysengland.co.uk/projects/oxford-to-cambridge-expressway) contains up-to-date information on the scheme and the most recent stakeholder conference presentation.
Department for Transport.