RAILFREIGHT DECISION AN ABSOLUTE TONIC FOR ST ALBANS

10.56.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 8th Jul 2010

"Today's brilliant news that the Secretary of State has overturned the Planning Inspector's recommendation and has rejected the Helioslough appeal is a wonderful tonic for St Albans and Park Street residents and the proper reward for years of hard campaigning," said Sandy Walkington, Liberal Democrat Candidate for St Albans in the 2010 election.

"Had this awful development gone ahead, it would have irrevocably destroyed the character of our city and district and would have reduced our roads to gridlock. Of course it is disappointing that the Inspector did not accept the powerful arguments put forward by the council, by STRiFE and by local residents.

"But at a political level, the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government has shown that it understands the importance of Green Belt and that there are alternative sites for railfreight terminals where much less damage would be caused.

"Three cheers for a government which shows common sense. And congratulations to STRiFE, to St Albans District Council, to all the local political parties who were genuinely united on this issue, and most of all to local residents and interest groups who gave evidence, put up posters, wrote letters, raised money and delivered leaflets. It is their well-deserved triumph."