SIR, — I grew up in Frogmore, I lived in a pub my parents ran and also worked there when I was old enough. I also worked part-time in Thorn EMI Medical and Frogmore garage all within walking distance of my home. When I left school, I continued to work in

SIR, - I grew up in Frogmore, I lived in a pub my parents ran and also worked there when I was old enough. I also worked part-time in Thorn EMI Medical and Frogmore garage all within walking distance of my home.

When I left school, I continued to work in the family business but often sought work in the neighbourhood to supplement my income. I worked for Arenson International, Granada Publishing, BRS Southern - to name a few. All these businesses have now gone from Frogmore and the pub my parents ran was also closed for business along with the Black Horse and the George and Dragon.

Less and less opportunities of work are presenting themselves in the area. A rail freight depot in Frogmore would revitalise the local economy. The idea that this is Green Belt land is farcical - it was an airfield which has been strip-mined of gravel with a major arterial road (M25), the ancient Roman road(Watling Street) and the dual-carriageway (A405) running adjacent to it while the major Thameslink train line puts a lid on the box.

There are no legal public rights of way onto the land so it cannot be used as an amenity. This district needs the jobs and business this depot will bring to the area. People should think less about what harm it will do and think more about the long-term prospects it will do for our jobs. It would make sense to put the weight of the protesters behind the rail-freight terminal to have a dedicated entrance onto the M25. The attitude of the protesters is frankly throttling the growth of a once-productive and industrial area.

If you ask some of the older residents of the area I think you'll find that most of the businesses that they remember have closed down and in some cases the buildings they occupied have been bulldozed.

JEFF SMYTH,

Bardwell Road, St Albans.