The OEP Strategy and Enforcement Policy Consultation

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) Strategy and Enforcement Policy Consultation ran between 25th Jan and 22nd March.  Considering the huge impact the proposed Lower Thames Crossing would have on the environment TCAG felt it would be appropriate to respond to this consultation.

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) is a new public body, established by the Environment Act 2021. They are independent, with functions to advise ministers and government departments and to hold them and other public authorities to account against their environmental responsibilities and the law.

 

What is the consultation about?

In this consultation they were seeking views on two documents:

1. Their draft strategy, which explains how they will work in their first period of operation to make the most difference they can. They expect to review it in around 18 months’ time.
2. Their draft enforcement policy, which explains more specifically how they will approach their enforcement role.

 

What happens next

The OEP will analyse and consider all responses to the consultation, and then publish a summary of responses alongside the final strategy and enforcement policy, which they are aiming to do in spring 2022.

Update

We are delighted that the OEP contacted us towards the end of April to ask for permission to include the following comment from our response in their upcoming report.

“How can we be expected to comment in consultation on things such as environmental impacts and mitigation when they refuse to share the relevant info needed, or the methodology and evidence to back up claims.  It’s not just members of the public that suffer this arrogant behaviour either, local authorities and NGOs report the same..“

We look forward to reading their full report when it is published.

 

TCAG response

Response to the OEP Strategy and Enforcement Policy Consultation

You can scroll through using the arrows

If you are having any issues with viewing our response above it can also be downloaded as a pdf file here.

 

Our response was submitted on 22nd March 2022.

 

Related

Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) – click here

OEP Strategy and Enforcement Policy Consultation – click here

25 Year Environment Plan – click here

There are many updates on our website about the environmental destruction and harm that the proposed LTC would bring, rather than list them all here please use our TCAG A-Z of LTC as a starting point to find further information.