Rail freight campaign group calling for help to fight new public appeal

ACTION group STRiFE has applied to the High Court to present evidence at developer Helioslough’s appeal against the rail freight inquiry decision next year.

STRiFE - Stop the Rail Freight Exchange - which has been at the forefront of the campaign to prevent Helioslough building a massive depot on Radlett Airfield since the outset - wants to be in a position to be represented at the appeal which is likely to be held next Spring.

The appeal is likely to take two days and together with preparation and court costs for STRiFE’s barrister, the action group will need �17,000.

�7,000 has already been raised but STRiFE needs to raise the further �10,000 to help prevent the scheme which would turn the Green Belt site into a sea of warehouses and put 3,000 extra trucks on local roads.

Helioslough has challenged the ruling earlier this year by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles to dismiss their most recent appeal on the grounds that a smaller proposal in Colnbrook, Slough, could potentially meet the need for a rail freight scheme with less harm to the Green Belt.

He overruled the decision by inspector Andrew Mead to grant permission at the second public inquiry into the Radlett Airfield proposals which was held at the end of last year.

Anyone who can help STRiFE with their ongoing battle against the proposed development is asked to send a cheque, however small, to STRiFE Ltd., PO Box 932, St Albans, AL1 9GG or go to the website for the bank details to make a transfer at www.strife.biz