Radlett rail freight to make roads 'intolerable' says Elstree Greenbelt Society

10:00am Sunday 17th February 2013 in News By Anna Slater

Roads to be 'intolerable' say rail freight campaigners Roads to be 'intolerable' say rail freight campaigners

Drivers will be faced with “mammoth” traffic jams when a new freight terminal is built near Radlett, according to campaigners.

Despite being six miles from the Park Street terminal, members of the Elstree Greenbelt Society said it will have a “dramatic effect” on cars passing through Borehamwood, Radlett and St Albans.

Under the plans, by developer HelioSlough, five big warehouses and a railway line will be built near Park Street.

But campaigners say this will cause a 20 per cent rise in traffic in the area – with around 1500 heavy goods drivers using the local roads, as well as employees on their way to work.

Ann Goddard, of Deacons Hill Road, called the plans “crazy” and said both areas would be blighted by noise, light and “lung destroying diesel fumes”.

The 79-year-old said: “The traffic tailbacks here are bad enough as it is, but this will make it so much worse. These plans threaten day-long gridlock on Watling Street.

“The new terminal will be generally awful and unpleasant for anyone in the area. It is wrongly situated.

“A beautiful patch of land will be lost forever.”

Under the plans, a new bridge linking the terminal and the M25 will be built – as well as work on a new roundabout on the A414 to accommodate the extra traffic flow.

But Mrs Goddard, who has six grandchildren, said the new roads would “render life intolerable” for anyone in the area.

Society member Pat Strack – who is also the Mayor of Borehamwood – said: “I am worried because there are so many changes to be made to the rail network.

“The overheard bridges are not big enough and some are not on the right side – so trains will have to go to Cricklewood to do a loop and come to Park Street again.

“This is an ill-conceived idea and has been forced through by a political ideologue without considering the people who are going to be affected by it the most.”

“There is enough congestion on the trains as it is, this will make it so much worse.”

Another society member, Ken Herbert, was left feeling riled after Eric Pickles gave the plans the green light in December – without holding an inquiry as originally promised.

The 68-year-old Theobald Street resident, added: “The freight wagons will not be able to pass through the tunnels on the railway line. The whole thing is a complete shambles.

“We do not need a freight terminal here as we do not have high levels of unemployment – so people will be driving in from elsewhere making the roads impossible.”

Comments(19)

Vicar*o*rage says...
11:53am Sun 17 Feb 13

Whinging NIMBY's, its job creation in a period of recession, and a number of local firms going to the wall. Construction jobs to build the site, then jobs to operate the terminal, plus additional local revenue generation.
Be thankful for job creation

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Andrew Turpie says...
12:18pm Sun 17 Feb 13

Vicar*o*rage wrote:
Whinging NIMBY's, its job creation in a period of recession, and a number of local firms going to the wall. Construction jobs to build the site, then jobs to operate the terminal, plus additional local revenue generation.
Be thankful for job creation
Job creation is a very short term view. Lets say this creates a 1000 jobs. Fine, but then we must house the employees, ensure we educate their off spring and give adequate health care to all their families. Look around you will see schools already bursting at the seams, unacceptable waiting time for GP's appointments and hospitals at breaking point. Job creation just to meet targets is killing the tax payers. Unless these projects become self sufficient, it will pose NO positive effect on society.

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Andrew Turpie says...
12:29pm Sun 17 Feb 13

As above is one of the reasons I'm against the housing development on the west Watford allotments. It would be cheaper and greener to offer local job seekers already in housing "first dibs" on the jobs, end game meaning less strain on local infrastructure.

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phil mitchel says...
1:13pm Sun 17 Feb 13

What a self interested bunch of **** this lot are. Non of them live in house's that were there since the dawn of time, non of them work or worked in buildings that were there since the dawn of time, same with doctors, hospitals or schools. People need jobs,houses and all that goes with it just like when the homes and infrastructure these self oppionionated protesters think is there just for them did when they moved into the area.

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Andrew Turpie says...
2:22pm Sun 17 Feb 13

phil mitchel wrote:
What a self interested bunch of **** this lot are. Non of them live in house's that were there since the dawn of time, non of them work or worked in buildings that were there since the dawn of time, same with doctors, hospitals or schools. People need jobs,houses and all that goes with it just like when the homes and infrastructure these self oppionionated protesters think is there just for them did when they moved into the area.
Such eloquence Phil, but you miss the point, years ago there was breathing room in the infrastructure, there isn't now and there isn't the money (locally funded) around to expand the infrastructure to cater for these jobs. Jobs for jobs sake is the dog wagging the tail. Think of the bigger picture.

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Andrew Turpie says...
2:25pm Sun 17 Feb 13

Tail wagging the dog...sorry.lol

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Vicar*o*rage says...
2:58pm Sun 17 Feb 13

If any of you remember when Handley Page Aircraft Maker occupided a huge site, employing many thousands, and generated loud noise during flight testing Victor 'V' bomber. This site went back as far as the railway and contributed large amounts to local economy. HP went bust in 1970, creating large local unemployment.
The Rail Freight site will be occupying large part of this former factory and airfield, so it was a previous industrial site.

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phil mitchel says...
6:10pm Sun 17 Feb 13

Andrew if you're that concerend with the demands on the environment and the infrastructure you yourself will not be having any off spring to add to the increased demand. I'm sure you would be in favour of compulsary sterilisation of the mass's to relieve the already overstretch services and environment as you term it.

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Puddy73 says...
7:52pm Sun 17 Feb 13

Vicar*o*rage wrote:
Whinging NIMBY's, its job creation in a period of recession, and a number of local firms going to the wall. Construction jobs to build the site, then jobs to operate the terminal, plus additional local revenue generation.
Be thankful for job creation
It may be job creation in a period of recession, however its being proposed in an area with low unemployment, resulting in the workforce expected to commute in. With this there are no proposals to improve the transport infrastructure in the local area, especially to support the commuting workers. This proposed development is suited to an area with a readily available workforce.
And for being a "Whinging NIMBY". This development is planned to be in my back garden.

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phil mitchel says...
8:59pm Sun 17 Feb 13

Wow Pudsey that's a big back garden you've got if the development is going to be in it. Do you use your garden to run around in your spotted onesie ?

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Andrew Turpie says...
5:56am Mon 18 Feb 13

phil mitchel wrote:
Andrew if you're that concerend with the demands on the environment and the infrastructure you yourself will not be having any off spring to add to the increased demand. I'm sure you would be in favour of compulsary sterilisation of the mass's to relieve the already overstretch services and environment as you term it.
Physically impossible for me to add to the population, but as someone who works in education, i know first hand that budgets are tight and it can't cope with any more pressure. Ditto with the NHS and other priority services the public require and throwing handfuls of jobs here and there will resolve it how exactly Phil? We are all ears.....

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Andrew Turpie says...
6:22am Mon 18 Feb 13

And i see your priming me for the usual "Nazi style population cull" style debate, quite a common procedure from the left of the political spectrum when they have no ideas left to throw into the hat. Tiresome.

It's a simple game of economics and balance. So again, i will ask you, how will these jobs created enrich the lives of those around the area?

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Home Truths says...
9:32am Mon 18 Feb 13

These nimbies have come up with all sorts of nonsonsense with not one fact to back up any of the trash they come out with. This is the best thing to happen in this area for years, lots of new jobs for those who want to work and a big boost to reduce unemployement in the area. Not to mention moving vast amounts of freight from the congested roads onto the railways. Cant come quick enough.

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phil mitchel says...
2:01pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Andrew I see the protestors are taking to the streets at the weekend, will you be lending your support ? Second thoughts don't bother, you won't be much good if you've no lead in your pencil. :)

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Andrew Turpie says...
8:40pm Mon 18 Feb 13

phil mitchel wrote:
Andrew I see the protestors are taking to the streets at the weekend, will you be lending your support ? Second thoughts don't bother, you won't be much good if you've no lead in your pencil. :)
Oh dear, how to humiliate one's self in public. Firstly you accuse me of lobbying compulsory sterilization and then you make fun of a condition which blights thousands of couples who would like to conceive. Not really wise is that?

As l have asked you around 3 times where the funds will be found to bolt on extra classrooms, health clinics etc. to cope with the families and other overheads that will come with the majority of the jobs created, you cannot seem to find an answer.

I can only assume that you are one of these internet "trolls", which given a few yards of optic fibre and a keyboard, certain types take leave of their senses. A prime proven candidate that technology should only be granted to those who can use it responsibly.

Stay lucky.

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Puddy73 says...
10:35pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Home Truths wrote:
These nimbies have come up with all sorts of nonsonsense with not one fact to back up any of the trash they come out with. This is the best thing to happen in this area for years, lots of new jobs for those who want to work and a big boost to reduce unemployement in the area. Not to mention moving vast amounts of freight from the congested roads onto the railways. Cant come quick enough.
Unemployment in which area? Not the one its being developed in.
Moving freight from congested roads? but also moving the commuting workforce onto the local roads.

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John Smith II says...
9:38am Tue 19 Feb 13

What is the relevance of Mrs Goddard having six grandchildren? - isn't this a story about a proposed development?

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phil mitchel says...
12:49pm Tue 19 Feb 13

No unemployment, tell that to the 1500 unemployed in Hertsmere and the 1700 unemployed in St Albans (souce, office of national statistics). Just to respond finaly to Andrew Turpie. You are one of those sad individuals who paint yourself as the eternal victim, firstly the development is on your door step (victim), the tax payer will pay of which I assume you are one ( victim), you falsley said I branded you a nazi, which is totaly untrue (victim), then you said you can't have children (victim) although if they turned out with your twisted view on life a god send. How long before you further reinforce your victim status by telling us you were bullied as a child, rejected by your piers and wet the bed until you were 25. Enoughs enough and my heart bleeds for you, so you have my permission to have the last word.

Regarding those protesters who put themselves forward and think they are more inteligent than the rest, it's a pity they don't realise this deal has been done and dusted for some time, if Eric Pickles announced it it's a done deal. These kind of things aren't sorted in council offices or planning meetings thats for house extensions and the like. This will go ahead and so will HS2, it's time to face reality.

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Andrew Turpie says...
1:24pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Phil,

For the record, I never said I live in Radlett (your presumption). I never said you called me a nazi, I said you were trying to push the argument down that road (Another presumption). I never said I didn't have children, I do (Another presumption).

If you wish to question my parenting skills then please take it off the forums and I am happy to discuss further.

You really are tiresome and just cannot rise to your bait...never been bullied always stood my ground, but your giving it a good try and failing miserably lol.

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