23 Mar 2023
Days after it was claimed he had admitted the former Radlett airfield site was more than likely going to be a lorry terminal, Herts county council leader Cllr Richard Roberts has said his comments were misinterpreted by campaigners.
During a demonstration outside County Hall in Hertford on Monday, Joy Mendelsohn from Park Street Residents Association asked Cllr Roberts whether the area was suitable for rail freight.
She said he admitted it would be better off as a lorry terminal, before refusing to be drawn on how developers Segro would be made to pay for road improvements.
But now Cllr Roberts has responded to the allegations, telling the St Albans Times: “My comments have been misinterpreted, Segro have a planning permission to build a rail freight interchange serving a commercial development.
“We have always been reluctant sellers of the land in question, opposed the building of the SRFI and lost at appeal when the Secretary of State overturned the local decision.
“We have resisted selling the land but now as St Albans has confirmed the development has started and we have been offered a fair price we cannot thwart the Secretary of State’s decision.
“We will work closely with St Albans council to ensure the planning conditions that Segro have signed up to are delivered. These are a new by-pass for Park Street, improvements to the A414 and a new country park with cycle and walkways.”
