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Developer pushes on with plans for vast rail terminal
Page 8
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HELIOSLOUGH, the developer attempting to build a controversial rail freight terminal on green-belt land in Hertfordshire, says it will submit its application by the end of the month.
Spokesman Simon Hoare says the current recession has not stalled its plans to build the vast strategic rail freight exchange in Radlett, near St Albans.
Communities secretary Hazel Blears refused the original application last year on the grounds that Helioslough had not done enough work to establish whether there were alternative sites for a strategic rail freight development in the South-East.
This was seen as a victory by the many objectors to the plans, but Helioslough is preparing to fight again for the 40-acre terminal, which will have space for up to 617 trucks and is designed to meet the needs of the north-west quadrant of the M25.
However,the firm also recognises the upheaval it will cause: "There's a huge amount of objectors, let's not beat around the bush," Hoare says. "If there were 3.5 million square feet of rail connecting intermodal plans on green-belt land at the bottom of your garden, you wouldn't be too happy" However, he adds the £300m plans will not be affected by the current economic crisis: "Planning is long-term, we are in a cycle, and by the time we have addressed this we will be out of the recession."
Protesters at group Stop the Rail Freight Exchange (Strife) say: "Far from diminishing, local feeling against this monstrous proposal is as strong as ever."
The group is urging people to demonstrate at a public consultation of the plans taking place this month.
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