Newark MP Robert Jenrick responds to environmental protest plans outside offices at Newark YMCA
An MP has responded to plans by an environmental group to hold a protest rally at his constituency offices this Sunday (January 29).
The rally was organised by campaign group, Protect Newark’s Green Spaces (PNGS), to demand government withdraw the Retained EU Law Bill, which the group describes as an attack on nature.
It is hoped that hundreds of residents will turn out to support the rally — which will pass by some of Newark's at risk green spaces before finishing up at Robert Jenrick's office at the Newark YMCA where speeches will be delivered and an open letter will be handed in to the MP.
The legislation is dubbed the 'bulldozer bill' by environmental groups as it would see the redrawing of over 1,000 laws protecting nature and wildlife originally set by the EU with potentially dramatic consequences.
In response to the planned march, Robert Jenrick said: “I’m always pleased to meet constituents wanting to voice their views on forthcoming legislation.
"Holding a political rally outside a family leisure centre is perhaps misjudged. I hope it doesn’t disturb those using it.
"There is no plan to renege on environmental protections — quite the contrary, we are increasing protections.
"The EU Bill asks government departments to replace EU regulations with British ones in light of us having left the EU. Departments will work to ensure better and more tailored laws are proposed.
"We will use this to reduce regulation where appropriate to help grow the economy and make the UK more competitive and design world class regulatory frameworks for the things that matter to us all, like the environment.
"There will definitely be ways to use our Brexit freedoms to drive better regulation.
"This is a far more democratic process than before as each of the regulations under consideration were imposed on the UK without any opportunity for parliamentary debate or votes.“
The PNGS protests are also are supported by The Woodland Trust, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, the Balderton Lake campaign Saving Wildlife and Nature (SWAN), Extinction Rebellion and LASSIPCO, the campaign for the former Lilley & Stone School.
