04 Mar 2024
St Albans MP Daisy Cooper told a packed meeting of concerned residents that she fully backed a legal challenge which could stop the development of a huge freight terminal on the site of the old Radlett airfield.
And in a further boost for the campaign, Deputy Prime Minister and MP for Hertsmere Oliver Dowden told them he also supported the legal challenge to review the sale.
“I am pleased that Save St Albans: Fight the Freight will have their day in the High Court where the decision to sell the land will be reviewed,” he said.
“I am alarmed that Hertfordshire County Council approved the sale of the site, paving the way for this rail freight terminal.
“It will clog our roads, blight our countryside and put further pressure on the Thameslink line. I would urge all affected residents to back this ongoing campaign.”
The latest public meeting hosted by Save St Albans: Fight the Freight attracted around 200 people to Greenwood Park Community Centre on Sunday where organisers updated residents about developments in the legal challenge.
The campaign claims the way Herts County Council sold 300 acres of metropolitan Green Belt was unlawful because the land had been designated permanent open space when the council bought it for £1 in the mid-19080s and should not be developed.
After considering submissions from the campaign, HCC and the developers Segro, a senior judge Mrs Justice Thornton decided the legality of the sale should be determined in the High Court.
Campaigners expect the case to be heard in early June, nearly one year after HCC announced they had sold the land. The group is now fundraising to meet the £25,000 needed for legal fees.
One of the campaign leaders Cllr Nuala Webb said: “We believe we have a strong case and a strong legal argument with clear evidence that when Herts bought the land the purpose of the acquisition was to maintain it as undeveloped permanent open space for the benefit of the community.
”The fact we raised around £4,000 on Sunday afternoon alone shows the strength of feeling among local people and shows they believe this is a fight they think we have a good chance of winning.”
Another of the campaign leaders Terrie Smith said: “People at the meeting were really supportive. It’s a David vs Goliath battle but this is so important to our community and people really want us to push on, to see if we can win this case and stop this development.”
St Albans MP Daisy Cooper told the meeting she was encouraged by the updates from the Fight the Freight campaign and concerned by Segro’s failure to engage with local people.
She said: “I’ve fought the government and county council every step of the way, as they pressed ahead to dump this freight terminal on our community.
“I met with Segro before Christmas, after Hertfordshire County Council completed the sale of their land. Segro agreed to organise a public meeting to answer questions from residents early in the New Year.
“Following weeks of delays and excuses, I was deeply concerned when they U-turned on that commitment altogether.”
You can back the campaign by donating whatever you can here: https://www.savestalbans.com/donate/
