CAMPAIGN group STRiFE is preparing to join the district council in the High Court to contest the appeal by HelioSlough over the proposed rail freight depot in Radlett.

STRiFE has been at the forefront of the battle to prevent HelioSlough building a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) on the former Radlett Airfield and is determined to fight on until the bitter end.

Last week HelioSlough announced that it is appealing to the High Court against the decision by Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to overturn the planning inspector’s recommendation and dismiss the latest appeal for the site.

His grounds were that a smaller proposal in Colnbrook, Slough, could potentially meet the need for an SRFI with less harm to the Green Belt.

It followed the second public inquiry over the scheme, both of which HelioSlough lost but in a far from decisive manner.

STRiFE and the district council will have an opportunity to appear at the High Court - albeit only with barristers in front of a judge - to support the Secretary of State over his decision.

Their spokesperson, Cathy Bolshaw, said: “STRiFE have always said that we will not give up on this cause and will defend this last large piece of Green Belt land that is so important to this area of St Albans, Radlett, Park Street and the whole surrounding area for as long as we have to, until it is established once and for all, that this is not the best place for an SRFI.”

She pointed out that two different Secretaries of State from two different governments had rejected HelioSlough planning applications because, basically, Radlett Airfield was not the best site for an SRFI and there was another preferred site which would cause less harm to the Green Belt.

STRiFE needs �15,000 to enable their barrister to represent them in the High Court and is appealing to anyone concerned about the future of the city to send what funds they can to STRiFE, PO Box 932, St Albans, AL1 1GG. To obtain bank details go to the website www.strife.biz