14 Feb 2025
Neighbours living near Park Street roundabout have condemned the clearance of trees and vegetation as part of road modifications for the controversial strategic rail freight development.
They say the trees and vegetation significantly help in reducing the noise, light and emissions pollution generated by the well-used roundabout , but these are being cut down by Herts Highways and SRFI developer Segro.
There are also concerns for wildlife including hedgehogs, bats, foxes, deer and birds, all of which have been seen in the local area.
Neighbour Andy Love said: “Residents living on Tithe Barn estate are trying to stop the contractors removing all of the trees and vegetation around where the exit from the A414 bends round to go up St Julian’s Hill.
“A new filter lane is planned for the hard shoulder to join St Julian’s Hill but rather than just clearing the trees that might impede this, they appear to be clearing all the trees and vegetation leaving the nearby estate open to the roundabout.
“There is also a public footpath just by this planned works which the safety implications of the filter lane joining St Julian’s Hill at this point, don’t appear to have been thought through fully by Herts Highways.”
Frogmore resident Susie Taylor added: “There’s huge anger about the overzealous tree removal especially as we were told only the trees necessary for the road improvements would be removed. This clearly isn’t the case it’s utter devastation.
“This development is supposed to be all about reducing carbon, yet the carbon footprint will take at least 30 to 40 years to recover. It’s an absolute disgrace.”
The planned works include an additional A405 entry lane and A414 (east arm) exit lane, additional third circulatory carriageway lane, signalisation on the A414 and A405 arm and improvements to the A405 pedestrian crossing.
Andy has met with representatives from the developer and construction company Volkerfitzpatrick to find out more about the planned modifications to the roundabout.
He revealed: “The roundabout will be installed with traffic lights for all exits except the Park Street and St Julian’s Hill (St Stephen’s) roads. These roads will be allowed to filter on to the roundabout as the lights change on the other signalised exits. The roundabout will also have two additional lanes added. The hard shoulder on the A414 coming from Hemel Hempstead will become a lane that will filter into the road going up St Julian’s Hill and another lane will be added to the A414 coming from the London Colney roundabout.”
County councillor Sandy Walkington responded to the work: “I support the upgrading and partial signalisation of the Park Street roundabout. For too long residents have taken their lives in their hands trying to enter and exit against the huge traffic flows of the A405 and A414, and I have had constant requests for something to be done during my twelve years as councillor.
“But I am concerned about the root and branch (literally!) removal of trees which provide an invaluable service as visual screen and traffic noise absorber. I fully understand residents’ dismay if these are lost. I have been talking both to Segro who are carrying out the work and to Hertfordshire highway officers to seek a more nuanced approach. Of course safety is paramount but I am now optimistic that considerably fewer trees will be removed than at first planned with the screen of trees and vegetation at the rear of the drainage pond not being touched.
“I also have the promise that a new tree will be planted for every tree removed. It is no secret that I always opposed the freight terminal, but it’s now a reality and my job as councillor is to mitigate the damage to my residents and maximise any collateral benefit.”
A Herts county council spokesperson said: “Vegetation clearance work is taking place around the Park Street roundabout to improve visibility and incorporates the planned improvements to the roundabout to take place this year by Segro as part of the Radlett strategic freight rail interchange project.
“This vegetation removal work is taking place now to ensure that the bird-nesting season isn’t affected and that there is minimal impact on wildlife.
“We continue to work with the scheme promoters and their consultants involved to ensure that suitable replacement planting takes place once the works on the roundabout are completed.”
A Segro spokesperson added: “The tree and vegetation removal work on Park Street is necessary to support road improvement and the widening of the roundabout.
“It aligns with the approved planning permission that has been granted, meets modern safety standards and has been approved by Hertfordshire County Council’s highways team. Ecological assessments were carried before work began, with clearance being undertaken ahead of the bird nesting season.
“An overview of the project and high-level details of key construction activities have been shared with the local community via public events in January at Park Street Village Hall and London Colney Parish Council Caledon Hall, maildrops to local addresses and a dedicated website, as well as the Community Liaison Forum attended by councillors and local residents’ associations and a dedicated Community Liaison Officer.
“We continue to liaise and share information about various aspects of the works with the community via these channels, however, there is no formal consultation process as this has already been covered by the planning process.”
But one local resident, who asked to remain anonymous, disputed these claims: “I attended the exhibition at Park Street Village Hall and there was no mention of any trees or vegetation being removed.
“There were photos of the proposed junctions at either end of the new access road for the SRFI, from which one could deduce that some of the trees would be removed to create the necessary opening from the A414, but there was no suggestion that reference to anywhere else being impacted.
“I asked the Segro representative how the capacity of the Park Street roundabout was to be increased (e.g. between the A414 and the A405) to create the extra lanes but he didn’t know.
“I wonder if any consideration was given to reducing the diameter of the central island to create the additional capacity?
“I realise it needs to be a sufficient size to enable HGVs and other vehicles to drive around it safely, but it would be far less controversial if they reduced some of the grassed area in the middle rather than the mature trees around the edges!” they added.
