LEGAL issues have prevented Hertfordshire County Council from objecting to a second application for a railfreight depot on Green Belt land just outside Radlett.

Despite the hundreds of extra lorries that will use the already congested A414 and other local roads, Hertfordshire County Council’s highways experts have decided not to lodge an objection on traffic grounds.

County council spokesman John Camp told the Review today: "While the council did indeed object on highway grounds to the first application, the Secretary of State concluded that they had very limited weight in her final decision to recommend refusal after the first public inquiry in 2007.

"As the second application is the same as the first, and there have been no material changes in circumstances since that time, an objection on highway grounds could not be justified in legal terms in this case.

"Indeed, according to independent legal advice taken by the council, such an objection may be considered unreasonable and could therefore result in very substantial costs being claimed against the authority.

"However, we should like to make it clear that, while the council has not objected to the application for the reasons given above, the authority does not in any way support the proposed development."