Campaigners fighting the proposed rail freight terminal on the former Radlett airfield, south of St Albans have arranged a public meeting to update residents on the latest legal ruling that could see the development blocked.
St Albans MP Daisy Cooper will also address the meeting on Sunday, March 3 at 2pm in Greenwood Park Leisure Centre and explain how she has raised the sale in parliament.
Last week a senior judge decided that the High Court should rule later this year on whether the way Herts County Council sold 300 acres of green belt was lawful. Save St Albans: Fight the Freight claimed historic covenants show the land had been designated permanent open space. Herts County Council claimed that when they bought the land for £1 in the mid-1980s the sale conditions included different restrictions which did allowed them to sell on to developers.
But in her findings last week Mrs Justice Thornton said Herts’ submission had acknowledged that they weren’t able to provide conclusive evidence as to the basis by which they bought the land nearly 40 years ago.
“We are now at a crucial stage in our fight against this unwanted development,” said councillor Nuala Webb, one of the campaign leaders. “Mrs Justice Thornton’s decision last week has been a huge shot in the arm and we’ve had a great reaction from the community.
“We know people have lots of questions so a public meeting is the right way to listen, to explain and to look at ways we can fund the legal challenge. People have been quick and generous with donations already but we need more.
“This development will affect the entire St Albans area if it goes ahead. The legal challenge gives us a chance to stop it and prevent the traffic chaos, pollution and a last chance to save valuable green belt and open space.”
To support the legal challenge go to: www.savestalbans.com/donate/
Photo credit: Len Kerswell
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