Top Liberal Democrats Lend Support to Anti-Freight Terminal Campaign

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 16th Jan 2007

Paul Burstow MP, Liberal Democrat Chief Whip in the House of Commons, visited Park Street on Friday 12th January to confirm Liberal Democrat national support for local residents campaigning against the proposed massive freight terminal. He was joined by Sandy Walkington, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for St Albans, and by Lord Tom McNally, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords and a St Albans resident.

They met Cathy Bolshaw, the organiser of the STRIFE campaign group, together with Bill Hammond, another of the many local campaigners. Paul Burstow congratulated the campaigners on the quality of their briefing. "The rail element is clearly a scam," he said. "The Midland Mainline is not suitable for full-sized freight trains. Major infrastructure works would be required for the Elstree Tunnel, the North London line is already full to bursting with freight traffic, while line restrictions mean that no worthwhile freight could come down from the north. Road haulage would have no such inhibitions, and it is clear that this is a Trojan Horse road freight depot with a few rail sidings attached."

Sandy Walkington added that the implications for the environment and local infrastructure are tremendous, particularly on top of the housing development which the government is trying to foist on St Albans district. "The A414 is already the most overloaded stretch of dual carriageway in the county, and all the workers on the site would add to traffic pressures. This is the wrong project in the wrong location. I take my hat off to local campaigners for what they have already achieved. I am delighted that the Liberal Democrat leadership in both Houses of Parliament have confirmed their opposition. It has to be an all-party fight, as part of the Hands off Herts Campaign."

ENDS

Note to Editor: Photo attached of briefing at Park Street

Left to right: Cllr Aislinn Lee, Cllr Martin Frearson, The Rt Hon Lord Tom McNally, Cathy Bolshaw (STRiFE), Sandy Walkington, Bill Hammond (STRiFE), Paul Burstow MP, Cllr Chris White, Nicola Baillie

For more information, please call Sandy Walkington on 07802 177317