To: UK Parliament

Stop the building of a rail freight interchange at Park Street

St Albans DC have challenged Eric Pickle's decision to allow the building of a rail freight interchange at park Street on green belt land. The rail freight interchange will be a disaster for residents locally as well as in St Albans and Park Street.

Rail commuters
Larry Heyman of First Capital Connect warned residents at the Elstree and Borehamwood Green Belt society AGM in May 2012 Rail commuters will face years of disruption while rebuilding of bridges and tunnels are undertaken to allow access for the container trains. The alternative is to build new rolling stock to accommodate the containers that will not pass under the present bridges on the line All rail freight coming from the north will have to go as far south as Cricklewood so it can be turned round to head north again to be unloaded. The trains will all be slowed by the additional competition for time slots on an already busy schedule for the track.

Road users
Road freight an estimated 300 extra lorry movements will be needed to distribute goods form the freight interchange to surrounding districts. Most employees will drive to get to the Warehouse complex putting additional vehicles on the road.

Environment
The loss of this green belt site will have an impact not only on the habitats, flora and fauna associated with that site, but pollution noise will impact surrounding areas over a vast area.

Why is this important?

To prevent the destruction of green belt land and nuisance caused by large goods vehicles using roads already at capacity.