Rail Freight Bombshell

4.10.00pm GMT Fri 14th Nov 2008

Sandy Walkington protesting against the Rail Freight Terminal development earlier this year

Local residents have rightly expressed their shock and rage at the developer Helioslough's announcement that they will come back with a revised application for a rail freight terminal at the former Radlett Aerodrome site in early in 2009.

Helioslough claim they can meet the Inspector's objections to the proposal. Your Liberal Democrat councillors are furious at this total disregard of the unanimous feelings of local people.

County Cllr Aislinn Lee said: "This really is outrageous. How many more years are we going to have to put up with the uncertainty, distress and taxpayer expense of fighting this proposal? This is the wrong site for this type of development."

Sandy Walkington, Lib Dem parliamentary spokesperson for St Albans, straight away contacted STRiFE and St Albans District Council to propose a strategy meeting of all the key players.

"This goes way beyond party politics, we need to get together - political parties, the council, STRiFE - and plan how best to pool our resources", said Sandy.

Sandy added, "This is not the only possible location for a freight terminal as Helioslough claim, there are other areas that want this development and the jobs that go with it. It's a rotten Christmas present for the whole southern side of the district."