NOT IN MY BACK YARD
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Even where developers are willing to invest in the infrastructure that could improve the prospects for intermodal freight, building new facilities is rarely a simple matter.
Earlier this year, warehouse specialist HelioSlough found its plans to build a £3m rail and road freight hub on an old airfield near St Albans thrown out by the local council (CM 1 March).
Local residents feared the extra traffic, possible affect on property prices and intrusion on greenfield space.
HelioSlough might win permission on appeal to central government, but at the least the setback will mean a delay of 18 months to two years-and local objections to such schemes are routine.
Development progress is slow, even for a company whose avowed aim is to "get goods to market and reduce road freight mileage as much as possible". That might be in tune with government policy, but it doesn't make a new freight hub any more palatable to the people of St Albans.