2023 AGM & TALK
Our AGM was in November 2023 and we held a talk by Andrew Boswell alongside it. See below.
Dr Andrew Boswell's talk
This was about the environmental and climate impacts of four massive road building projects poised to devastate countryside around Norwich, which would destroy precious wildlife habitats, increase development pressures and generate more traffic 'needing' further road building.
Andrew is an environmental consultant and climate activist living in Norwich who campaigns on high carbon infrastructure including roads and energy plants. He is well known for launching a legal challenge (now seeking permission to appeal) against the dualling of the A47, arguing the government had failed to properly consider the impact which cumulative carbon emissions generated would have on its net zero commitments.
He was a Green Norfolk County councillor between 2005 and 2017 and was on Norwich City Council for 4 years, and Green Party group leader on both councils.
Exciting News : Andrew Boswell wins next step on A47 schemes
On 18th Oct permission was been granted by the Court of Appeal for Dr Andrew Boswell to challenge the granting of development consent for three new, nationally significant road schemes in Norfolk, on the grounds of the Department for Transport’s and National Highways’ failure to properly consider the three schemes’ combined impacts on climate change.
The Order says that Dr Boswell’s challenge “has a real prospect of success” and acknowledges that “assessment of combined carbon emissions has potentially wide implications”.
Dr Boswell first challenged the granting of development consent for the three schemes in the High Court in May 2023 [2]. Justice Thornton dismissed the challenges in July 2023
Dr Boswell said: “I feel vindicated today that the Court of Appeal has decided that my cases should proceed... My cases have a real prospect of success in the Appeal court, and this would have wider implications for the Government’s failing climate strategy, especially on transport. ”
The case goes to the Court of Appeal on January 16th. Andrew & supporters are organising a minibus from Norwich for people to attend the Court and an event outside court, if you are interested do contact him
