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Council refuses to end fight against Radlett freight interchange

St Albans City and District Council (SADC) has confirmed that it will seek permission to appeal the dismissal of its recent court challenge against the proposal for a strategic rail freight interchange (SRFI) at Radlett.                   

Last month, the High Court dismissed the local authority’s challenge to the government’s decision to grant planning permission for the SRFI on the Green Belt site of the former Radlett Airfield. 

The permission last summer came five years after a public inquiry and after the site had already spent nearly a decade tangled up in the planning process. 

At the time, SADC did make an appeal to Mr Justice Holgate for permission to appeal his decision, but this was refused. 

The local authority had until yesterday to decide whether it wished to apply for permission to appeal. An SADC spokeswoman said: “Following consultation with its external legal advisors on grounds for appeal, the Council has decided to seek such permission.” 

STRiFE - Stop The Rail Freight Exchange – added that it is not giving up on the battle to prevent the SRFI being built by Helioslough Limited, the joint venture between Helios Properties plc, a logistics specialist, and Slough Estates plc. 

A petition on Hertfordshire County Council’s website opposing the sale has over 4,100 signatures. Cathy Bolshaw of STRiFE said: “STRiFE is absolutely clear that this last large piece of Green Belt land between St Albans and London must be protected at all costs.” 

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