Second petition set up against rail freight (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Second petition set up against St Albans rail freight terminal in Park Street

3:20pm Monday 21st January 2013 in News By Zoe Forsey, Senior Reporter

A second petition has been set up in a bid to put a halt on a controversial plan to build a rail freight terminal in Park Street.

Although a petition has already been set up to try to convince Hertfordshire County Council not to sell the land required for the development, this new bid focuses attention on the district council.

Campaigners are hoping that the new petition will encourage St Albans District Council, the planning authority for the area, to take legal action against the plan.

Sandy Walkington, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for St Albans, said: "We absolutely support STRiFE’s petition. We have to make sure that the county council stands up for local people.

"They’ve got to do the upmost to resist it but the planning authority can also challenge what Eric Pickles has done. It is a two pronged approach.

"We want to make sure that the district council know there is public support for this.

"It seems to me that there are clear grounds for St Albans District Council to take legal action to stop Mr Pickles and Helioslough in their tracks."

Secretary of State Eric Pickles decided that the former Radlett Aerodrome could be developed at the end of last year, despite residents’ objections, politicians and councils voting against it.

Mr Walkington said: "I think it is a catastrophic place to put this kind of development. We just don’t have the infrastructure.

"It is a knife in the soft underbelly of St Albans."

Campaigners have been braving the freezing temperatures to door knock residents in a bid to get people to sign the latest petition.

Mr Walkington said: "It has been bitterly cold but what is striking is that wherever we have been, people are very ready to sign. No one has said no.

"It has been really positive. People are really pleased that we are doing this.

"We just want as many signatures as possible.

"I am encouraged by the noises being made by St Albans Council that legal action is under consideration. "But we need to reinforce their determination by showing that taking legal action would have widespread support from local council tax payers.

"It is standing up for St Albans against a stupid decision."

The petition is currently more than 200 signatures strong.

To add your name to the list visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z3KMFCV