A railfreight terminal will be bad for Radlett, Elstree and Borehamwood, according to a former county councillor for the area.

Retired architect Martin Saunders told the inquiry: “I represent 10,000 residents of the Watling division.

“Not one resident is in favour of this development.

“There are major technical objections to this proposal.”

He said there were many homes close to the railway line on both sides which would be disturbed by noise at night, especially as south-bound goods trains would pass through the area twice while they reversed at Cricklewood.

He added that lorry traffic would clog up minor roads in the area after leaving the terminal via the proposed Park Street by-pass, raising partuclar concerns over the A5183/Harper Lane junction.

Stressing the legal requirement for “special circumstances” to override any harm to the Green Belt, he said: “In this case it is hard to imagine any circumstances that would clearly outweigh the enormous harm.”