PLANNING officers have recommended to refuse controversial plans for a railfreight terminal between Park Street and London Colney.

Applicant Helioslough has submitted new plans for a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange on the former Radlett aerodrome site, after St Albans District Council rejected the first round of proposals in February 2007 – these were then thrown out by a planning inspector in October 2008.

Over the weekend, protesters who have been fighting against the application which has been branded “horrendous” and “catastrophic” publicly demonstrated their opposition in St Albans city centre.

Campaigning group STRiFE (Stop the Rail Freight Exchange) were joined by representatives of the three main political parties, while they aired their views.

A planning committee is set to meet next week, on Monday, July 20, where Helioslough's plans will be discussed.

However, officers have already recommended that it should be refused. They have said building terminal is an inappropriate use of Green Belt land.

The size, height and bulk has also been commented on, which they say “would be highly damaging to, and seriously diminish, the open character and visual amenity of this significant part of the Green Belt which provides among other things an important gap between Park Street and London Colney.

Helioslough's new plans include five warehouses with a combined area of 331,655 square metres, with parking for up to 1,602 cars and 617 lorries. A new Park Street/Frogmore relief road will be built to serve the terminal.

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