08 Jun 2023
Despite recent setbacks at County Hall, campaigners against the proposed strategic rail freight interchange on the former Radlett airfield site are defiant, not despondent.
A recent meeting of HCC’s oversight and scrutiny committee (OSC) rejected suggestions that they need not sell the land as there had been significant changes in circumstances since planning permission was granted in 2014.
But the failure of this last-ditch attempt has only fired up campaigners further, and they are now discussing the prospect of a judicial review to challenge the way in which HCC made the decision to sell the land and whether the process was lawful.
If this goes ahead it could force senior county councillors into the spotlight over the proposal – something they have long since tried to avoid, preferring to pass ultimate responsibility onto their officers.
The recent OSC meeting has also served to highlight further shortcomings in the entire process.
Herts Highways’ report on traffic movement is only concerned with past data, and has failed to predict levels of additional traffic movement should the terminal go ahead.
They also admitted that they have no agreement with the developers to fund infrastructure improvements needed to cope with extra demand, and only vague plans to restrict HGV movements.
Not only have they no plans to control the movement of light goods vans leaving the terminal, which will put pressure on roads around St Albans, Radlett and London Colney, but they also have no plans for ongoing contributions from Segro for maintenance, despite the increase in traffic.
HCC has not sought any independent advice from logistics experts about changes, trends, data and forecasts about future freight movements, but did speak to land agent Savills – who not only have a close working relationship with Segro but also produced the confidential land valuation of the site.
They also seemed unaware of a new government research project looking at the future for logistics in the UK, but seem intent on rushing to sell the land regardless.
Finally, deputy chief executive Scott Crudgington said he expected the site to generate business rates which will help the county council’s revenue streams. He made no mention of predicted figures but seemed happy with any increase, whatever the cost to the community.
Cllr Nuala Webb, from Save St Albans: Fight the Freight, said: “ The fight is not over. We are considering next legal steps including a judicial review.
“The decision-making process throughout was seriously flawed and the OSC committee meeting revealed the full extent of the council’s failure to fully investigate changes affecting freight movement since planning was passed, how this would affect the proposed terminal and whether it is likely to be a strategic rail freight terminal.
“It was also quite shocking to hear how little the council had achieved in securing funding agreements with the developers for local infrastructure and how little they had to say about forecast traffic movement.
“There is vague mention of HGV restrictions but no mention of control of the movement of thousands of white vans that will clog local roads.
“The fight against the freight continues.”
Save St Albans: Fight the Freight have organised a public meeting in London Colney next Sunday, June 11. Like people living in Frogmore, residents in London Colney and Napsbury will find themselves living just yards from the terminal. Every other new freight terminal in the UK is usually no nearer than a mile to the closest housing.
The meeting will update residents on the next steps – and make it clear that the fight is not over. It is taking place at 2pm at the Caledon Community Centre, 29 Caledon Road, London Colney.
If you want to get involved in the campaign against the proposed rail freight interchange, Save St Albans: Fight the Freight has organised a petition calling on HCC to suspend the sale of their land for the SRFI: change.org/p/suspend-the-sale-of-st-albans-land-for-a-rail-freight-interchange-development
