Delay expected for Radlett rail freight inquiry result

Government inspector Andrew Phillipson heard evidence from 22 expert witnesses, and submissions from parish councils, residents' groups and members of the public during a seven week public inquiry which ended last December.The proposed location of the terminal, which would cover 1,040 acres of land, is within St Albans District Council but as it is so close to Radlett, Hertsmere Borough Council was involved in the consultation process and agreed to contribute £30,000 towards the cost of the inquiry. It had been expected that Mr Phillipson's report would be passed to Secretary of State Hazel Blears for a final decision by the end of June, but his office now believes there will be a delay until the autumn.Asked what he would do if the inspector gives the terminal the go-ahead, Councillor Chris Brazier, planning portfolio holder for the St Albans authority, said: "We spent £750,000 defending our right to refuse this application."I am confident that our side had put the best case forward to the planning inspector. "If the inspector did allow the application I would ask the legal team to review the decision to make sure there were no points that had been overlooked. "If there had been I would look at the possibility of taking it to a judicial review." Such a review entails a judge ruling on the lawfullness of a decision or action made by a public body. Richard Grove, Hertsmere's head of planning, said: "We hope that it won't have to come to a judicial review but if it did we would consider our position at that time." Developer HelioSlough submitted plans for the depot to be built on the former Radlett Aerodrome site, on the outskirts of the village.But St Albans, with the support of Hertsmere, unanimously rejected the plans in February last year. The authorities believed the proposal would damage the Green Belt, cause traffic chaos and create high levels of noise and air pollution.