Discussions

The Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) Public Inquiry has now concluded. The Inspector is now preparing his report and recommendation(s) for submission to the Secretary of State for their consideration. The Secretary of State will issue their decision(s) on or before the 23rd of June 2010. You can find the latest information on the St.Albans City and District Council website .

The Radlett Society and Green Belt Association is teaming-up with STRiFE for legal representation of the forthcoming Public Inquiry which will run for 16 days in St.Albans starting on Tuesday November 24th 2009. A rail-freight interchange could have far-reaching effects on everyone who lives within 10-15 miles of the site

• additional road traffic leading to congestion on local main roads;
• noise, dust and pollution from the site itself and from the road traffic generated by lorries and employees' cars
• possible rail timetable changes to commuter trains to accommodate more freight
• disruption of rail passenger/commuter services while rail track upgrades take place

The applicant has not demonstrated that rail-freight passages will be available to service the Interchange. There is a real possibility that the destruction of Green Belt will do no more than to create an unsightly white elephant.

We must therefore oppose this application using all means at our disposal.

Written objections to the SRFI may be sent to the Planning Inspectorate, at the address below, to arrive not later than Wednesday 30th September 2009.

Planning Inspectorate,
Room 4/04 Kite,
Temple Quay House,
2 The Square,
Temple Quay
Bristol BS1 6PN

Please quote ref: APP/B1930/A/09/2109433/NWF

The Radlett Society has committed £5000 towards top legal representation [in conjunction with STRiFE] and a publicity campaign in advance of the forthcoming SRFI Public Inquiry, due to start on Tuesday 24th November 2009.

As the total costs of legal representation are likely to be in the region of £35K, we are setting up a fund. Your donations toward this would be welcomed and appreciated; please send payments to The Radlett Society, c/o 123 Newberries Avenue, Radlett, WD7 7EN.

The Radlett Society is a registered Charity, 280877.

Further information at: http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/planning/railfreight/#tcm:15-9900

Kind regards

Graham Taylor
CHAIRMAN, RADLETT SOCIETY & GREEN BELT ASSOCIATION

A RESOUNDING "no" met Helioslough's second application for a massive rail freight terminal on Green Belt land in Park Street this week.

The district council's planning referrals committee unanimously rejected the plans for the former Radlett Airfield at their meeting on Monday night, which was held at the Alban Arena and attended by more than 350 concerned residents.

Loud applause erupted when all nine councillors on the panel agreed with the planning officers' report and voted against the proposal on 14 separate grounds, including the impact on the Green Belt and the lack of an adequate alternative sites survey.

But, as expected, Helioslough immediately vowed to appeal against the decision and the company has already asked for another public inquiry in October.

Read more in the Herts Advertiser ...

From STRIFE: [PLEASE - Action needed from you before WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE] We need everyone to write to the Council with their objections against this monstrous industrial development on our Green Belt land.  Objections can include things like loss of Green Belt land, traffic, noise, air and light pollution and the lack of a local workforce.  Please try and make it personal to how it would affect you e.g. taking children to school, going shopping or getting to work.

======STOP SUMMARY=====

You MUST quote the planning application number which is 5/2009/0708 in all correspondence for it to be counted.

Please send your letters to:

The Planning Dept,
St Albans District Council
Civic Centre
St Peters Street
St Albans,  AL1 3JE

Please also send a copy of your letter to Anne Main MP, at House of Commons, London, SW1A OAA.

If you live in Radlett, or in the Hertsmere Borough, please send a letter to:

The Planning Dept,
Civic Offices, Elstree Way
Borehamwood
Herts, WD6 1WA

Please also send a copy of your letter to your MP, James Clappison MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A OAA

Letters need to your Council by WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE to be counted.

Don’t Delay! Write today!
 
As a way of counting our voices please send a quick email to web@strife.biz with a subject: "objection sent to St Albans" or "objection sent to Borehamwood

The Inspector recommended that the appeal be dismissed and planning permission refused. The Secretary of State agreed with the Inspector's recommendation.

The decision into whether a £300 million rail freight terminal will be built on Green Belt land near Radlett is not likely to be made until October.

It had been expected that Mr Phillipson's report would be passed to Secretary of State Hazel Blears for a final decision by the end of June, but his office now believes there will be a delay until the autumn.

You can CLICK HERE  to read more about the story on the Borehamwood & Elstree Times website.

The Rail Freight planning inquiry started 6 November in the St Albans District Council chamber and will run daily from 10am Tuesday to Friday each week for approximately eight weeks. However, between 20 - 23 November, because of the University of Hertforshire’s graduation ceremony, it is being relocated to the Dagnall Street Baptist Church.

CLICK HERE to go to the full information on the St Albans District Council website, including a link to the webcast.

The developers Helioslough have decided to appeal against the decision of St.Albans District Council to refuse the application. The lobby group STRiFE (www.strife.biz ) has scheduled a public meeting on Thursday 19th July at Radlett United Synagogue, Watling Street.

The Society is opposed to the application primarily on Green Belt grounds, viz: loss of openness, over-development, no exceptional circumstances. We will be submitting our case to the Planning Inspector in time for the Public Inquiry expected late 2007.

The following is taken from the STRiFE website:

More than 200 local residents and borough council members gathered to demonstrate their support to share ideas. Attendees included: Anne Main (MP), Sandy Walkington (SADC), Rloma Mills (SADC), James Clappison (SADC), Robert Donald (SADC).

An appeal has now been lodged by HelioSlough – PLEASE WRITE AGAIN RIGHT NOW. CLICK HERE to go to the STRiFE website for more information.

Any letters previously written to St Albans District Council will be automatically provided to the Planning Inspector but it is ESSENTIAL that people write again to stress beyond doubt that local public opinion remains united against the rail freight proposals.  Letters are to be received by the Planning Inspector by WEDNESDAY 11th JULY 2007 . Click Here

Please write, if only to repeat your objections (see Impact on YOU) Every letter counts!