30.06.15
Council refused permission to appeal Radlett freight decision
The Court of Appeal has refused to give St Albans City & District Council permission to appeal the dismissal of its recent court challenge against the proposal for a strategic rail freight interchange (SRFI) at Radlett.
Last year, the council challenged the communities secretary’s decision to grant planning permission for the SRFI at Park Street near St Albans. However, the High Court dismissed the council’s challenge on 13 March.
PSE’s sister site, RTM, reported back in April that the council confirmed it would seek permission to appeal the dismissal, but yesterday it received notice that the permission had been refused.
In his decision Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Sullivan says that he considers the grounds of appeal put forward by the council do not have a real prospect of success. The council now has seven days to decide whether to request that Lord Justice Sullivan’s decision is reconsidered at an oral hearing before the Court of Appeal.
A council spokeswoman said: “We will take advice from our legal advisors before making this decision.”
Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail manager, told RTM: “This decision is most welcome. Without terminals, which are the freight equivalent of stations for passengers, more freight cannot be transferred to the railways.
“Road/rail transfer stations such as Radlett are urgently needed at key strategic locations on our major networks to get long distance consumer freight onto the railways, the low carbon energy efficient safer alternative to HGVs which reduces road congestion.
“Radlett has become a test case because of its location in the south east where there is a lack of alternative sites with good road and rail connections.”
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