St Albans planners must be fair to backers of controversial scheme (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

St Albans planners must be fair to backers of controversial scheme

11:53am Friday 14th November 2008

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THE district council has confirmed that Helioslough, the company behind the rail freight project, can reapply for planning permission, and insists it will deal with any application fairly.

St Albans District Council spokeswoman Rebbeca Dundon said:"The council first heard of the probability of a new planning application from Helioslough yesterday .

"The process is at a very early stage and we understand that a formal application may be made early in 2009.

"It is possible for new applications to be put forward for sites where a previous application has been refused.

"The public will understand St Albans City and District Council must assess all applications fairly and they must be dealt with individually on their merits.

"The formal application will be considered in the light of the recent Secretary of State decision.

"Council members will have a view but if they want to be part of the decision making process they cannot make their mind up until the proposal is considered by the planning committee."

The planning inspector who heard a lengthy public enquiry and Secretary of State Hazel Blears agreed that most of the objections to the scheme, such as traffic and noise, had little substance.

However, they rejected the company's appeal as they did not accept it had demonstrated there was nowhere else such a goods yard, approved in principle by goverment policy, could be built.

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