FEARS of major traffic congestion are based on a misundertanding of Helioslough's plans, the company's barrister Martin Kingston has told the inquiry.

Continuing his closing statement this morning, he said: “There have been repeated mis-statements and misunderstandings of the access arrangements.

“All heavy goods vehicles willl be routed along the link road to the A414 roundabout, and thence to the Park Street or London Colney roundabouts.

“Direct access is then to the M25 by junctions 21 and 22, and to the M1 via junctions six and eight.

“They will not be on the A5183, the by-pass or the alleged rat runs.

“The improvements to the 414, the Park Street roundabout and the London Colney roundabout will ensure existing levels of congestion will not be materially affected by the development.

“The core concern is that when the motorways are blocked, lorries will travel on unsuitable routes.

“The more measured of the evidence from objectors recognises that total gridlock in both directions does not occur, and that gridlock events are with vehicles moving, albeit slowly, and are rare.”