Make yourself heard in St Albans rail freight fight

EVERY letter counts - that's the message from STRiFE as the pressure group urges local residents to send their objections to the proposal for a massive rail freight terminal in Park Street to the Government.

All letters opposing Helioslough's scheme for the former Radlett Airfield need to be with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham, by the last day of this month.

Even if people have already written to the district council, they need to send a letter to Mr Denham. Three copies must be enclosed so that the letter can also be sent to the applicant and the planning authority.

STRiFE spokesperson Cathy Bolshaw said: "Do not delay. Please write today - every letter counts. Ask all the people in your household to write a separate letter as each of them would be considered as an objection."

The campaign group is fundraising for its own representation at the forthcoming public inquiry to hear Helioslough's second appeal against the council's rejection of the scheme, which is scheduled for 16 days commencing on November 24.

Cathy added: "Fundraising is progressing well but, as ever, we have to be able to acquit ourselves well at the public inquiry. We rely totally on donations from the local community so please, if you have waivered up to now, take the plunge and give what you can. It is your countryside that we are trying to save."

The Radlett Society and Green Belt Association (RSGBA) has teamed up with STRiFE and it has committed �5,000 towards the legal costs of the inquiry.

The three copies of your letter should be addressed to the Secretary of State at The Planning Inspectorate, Room 4/04 Kite, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN. Quote the reference APP/B1930/A/09/2109433/NWF.

Objections can also be made through the appeals area of www.planningportal.gov.uk/pcs using the above reference. People are also urged to sign the online petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/StopRailFreight