HUNDREDS of objections to the proposed rail freight depot in Park Street have been lodged with the district council as the consultation period formally closes. St Albans council has received just under 900 objections to date with a handful in support of t

HUNDREDS of objections to the proposed rail freight depot in Park Street have been lodged with the district council as the consultation period formally closes.

St Albans council has received just under 900 objections to date with a handful in support of the scheme for 3.5 million sq ft of warehousing in five buildings - one of which would be larger than Terminal Five at Heathrow - and thousands of car parking spaces on the former Radlett Airfield which is in the Green Belt.

But even though the official consultation period ended yesterday (Wednesday), the council will consider late submissions right up to the date of the planning meeting to determine the application, July 20.

One response it will not have until the eleventh hour is that of the county council - a meeting of its development control committee on Tuesday decided to defer its recommendation until its next meeting - on the morning of July 20.

The county council objected to the first application from Helioslough to develop the site but in common with all other parties, has to look at the application again although it is substantially the same other than more work being done on an alternative sites survey.

Several members of STRiFE - Stop The Rail Freight Exchange - went over to County Hall on Tuesday to put their case against the Helioslough scheme.

Their spokesman Doug Hirst spoke to the committee and pointed out that the original application had been submitted four years ago and times had changed since then and moved on.

But the committee decided not to discuss their formal response until their next scheduled meeting on the same day as the application is considered by St Albans planners.

People who have not yet made their submissions about the application can still do so - but you have to hurry!

Cllr Chris Brazier, the council's planning portfolio holder, said this week: "We have had lots of representations, some of which have been for the scheme but that is from a minority who feel it would be good for employment.

"But we will look at late submissions which raise new points right up until the date of the meeting."

And Chris Mynott of STRiFE echoed his comments: "STRiFE would strongly encourage everyone who cares for the Green Belt and wants St Albans not to be affected by this monstrous planning application to write in before the end of June."

Register your objections now!

Objections should be put in writing either by letter to St Albans district council, Civic Centre, St Peter's Street, St Albans AL1 3JE, or by emailing planning@stalbans.gov.uk quoting case number 5/2009/0708 or online at www.stalbans.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/planning/planning-applications/planning-applications-search.aspx