SPECIAL arrangements have been put in place by the district council for the massive rail freight depot inquiry which starts in less than two weeks. The inquiry into the Helioslough scheme to build a freight terminal on the Radlett Airfield in Park Street

SPECIAL arrangements have been put in place by the district council for the massive rail freight depot inquiry which starts in less than two weeks.

The inquiry into the Helioslough scheme to build a freight terminal on the Radlett Airfield in Park Street gets underway at 10am on Tuesday, November 6.

The largest planning inquiry St Albans District Council has ever had to deal with, it is expected to attract a great deal of attention so as well as accommodating as many people as possible in the council chamber, where it is being held, a live webcast of the proceedings will be available on the opening two days.

Around 100 people can be seated in the council chamber, although a number of places will be taken up by the planning inspector, the legal teams for the parties, their witnesses and speakers.

An additional 100 seats will be made available in the committee rooms on the lower ground floor of the council offices for the public to view a live webcast of the proceedings.

Should the chamber and committee rooms be full, people will be directed to the Dagnall Street Baptist Church which can hold a maximum of 220 people and where they will be able to view a live webcast.

All seats for the public will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and anyone with disability requirements who wants to reserve a seat in advance should contact programme officer Lesley Young by phoning 01727 819304.

To view the webcast at home go to www.stalbans.ukcouncil.net/site. There will also be a rail freight inquiry link from the home page of the council's website www.stalbans.gov.uk with updates of the progress and programme of events.

The inquiry, which is expected to cost up to £1 million, will sit from 10am Tuesday to Friday each week for approximately eight weeks.