St Albans District Council: "We will show there are better locations for railfreight" (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

St Albans District Council: "We will show there are better locations for railfreight"

11:27am Tuesday 24th November 2009 in

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DESTRUCTION of the Green Belt to build a railfreight terminal cannot be justified as there are other possible locations, the district council has told the hearing.

In an opening statement, the authority's barrister Matthew Reed said: “This was unacceptable when it was considered by Inspector Phillipson in 2007 – it is unacceptable now.

“The council will provide substantial evidence to this inquiry, which was not before Inspector Phillipson, to show that the occupiers of the railfreight terminal need not be centered in the north-west sector.

“Alternatives may be appropriately sited in numerous locations In londomn and the South-East.

“There are other, better locations.

“The country park is, in reality a series of open spaces with access currently available.”

“The size, height, massing bulk and scale of the proposed development would be highly damaging to this part of the Green Belt, which provides an important gap between Park Street and London Colney.”