11 Apr 2024
Furious residents in Napsbury Park are demanding developers stop drilling at the site of the proposed rail-freight terminal on the former Radlett airfield after a weekend of what they say was unacceptable noise and disturbance.
Some neighbours say the vibrations from the drilling were so bad it felt as though their houses started to shake.
Developers Segro applied for permission for pile driving at weekends from 8am-6pm. But residents say they were only told about the drilling less than two days before the work started. They also claim the drilling exceeded permitted noise levels and went on into the evening beyond the 6pm limit.
The weekend work is part of preparations for the installation of a new ‘jack box’ under the railway – a concrete tunnel structure that will be installed at Christmas – and involves sheets of steel to be piled into the ground to stabilise the railway banking. It is due to be completed at the end of April.
Some residents took to social media to describe how their walls were shaking. Others have complained that the noise made it impossible for students to concentrate on revision for GCSE and A level exams.
“This work shouldn’t have started without local people being informed,” said Gary Davis, who chairs the Napsbury Park Residents Association.
“Noise levels for this type of work should be monitored and not exceed 60 decibels. Yet people living nearby recorded decibel levels of 85 which is damaging to human hearing. And this went on all weekend and is planned for the next four weekends. It’s unacceptable.”
Residents have also complained about the number of construction vehicles accessing the site via the bridleway from Shenley Lane, just yards from some homes in Beningfield Drive. and which added to the noise.
Mr Davis has been in contact with St Albans district council urging them to revoke permission for weekend work until residents have had meaningful discussions about how noise levels will be mitigated in future.
Cllr Nuala Webb from the Save St Albans: Fight the Freight campaign said: “It’s not clear why Segro are pressing on with this development when the sale of the land could be overturned at Judicial Review in June.
“This is why ramming a massive warehouse freight terminal between two villages right up to their back gardens was totally wrong. Profit and schedules for Segro come before people. Once again they have shown a total disregard for anyone who lives in this area.
“This comes after Segro reneged on agreements earlier this year to regularly consult with local groups in Frogmore.”
A spokesperson for Segro said: “We obtained permission from St Albans district council to undertake piling work outside of our normal hours of operation. We have equipment in place to monitor for noise and the readings from our works on the Napsbury Estate did not exceed 60db. We will provide this data to St Albans district council. The noise is within the 80db safe level limit and is normal for construction work of this nature.
“We are working to complete these works as quickly as possible and will continue to monitor noise to ensure compliance with the consented levels.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause for nearby residents.”
Save St Albans: Fight the Freight claim Herts County Council sold the 300 acres of Green Belt unlawfully. The case will be heard in the Royal Courts of Justice on June 11.
