AN ENVIRONMENTALIST group has welcomed plans to review a planned major road as the ‘beginning of the end.’

Oxford Friends of the Earth welcomed the announcement that a future Conservative government will review sections of the proposed Oxford to Cambridge Expressway.

The announcement came on Wednesday from transport minister Grant Shapps, while visit Oxfordshire on the campaign trail.

ALSO READ: Coroner says 'system failure' at Bullingdon after prisoner found dead in cell

The sections the Tories promised to review would be the Oxford to Milton Keynes section and M1 section, with a view to spend money on rail and cycling instead.

Friends of the Earth said they realised the review is not a cancellation, and leaves the issue of a million homes in the Oxford to Cambridge Arc unresolved.

Chris Church of OxFoE said: “Fifteen months ago we launched the ‘No Expressway Alliance’.

“People told us we were wasting our energy and that this was a done deal. We said that we and all the other groups opposed to it would work to make this plan ‘politically toxic’. This announcement - just before an election - suggests that we have succeeded. We will of course continue the campaign until the plan is firmly cancelled, but this smells like the beginning of the end.

Oxford Mail:

A No Expressway campaign group meeting. The group urged all local political candidates to back an end to the road last week.

He added: “This has been a grassroots campaign from start to finish. We applaud the efforts and hard work of people in every village and parish who have stood up to say NO!

“The lesson is clear - local action can make a difference!”

ALSO READ: Child rapist jailed for 'grotesque' campaign of sexual abuse

The Conservative announcement came after a survey by Oxford West and Abingdon candidate James Fredrickson, who asked resident their opinions on the Expressway.

Lib Dem candidate for the seat, Layla Moran, called the promise ‘hollow electioneering’ and said a full public consultation was needed.