Today was the first day in the new Public Inquiry into developer Helioslough’s appeal against St Albans District Council’s refusal of their application to build a massive freight terminal with a few railway sidings attached in the crucial Green Belt south of the city.
I joined the demonstration organised by STRiFE beforehand and then we all [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Uncategorized'
As new railfreight inquiry begins, have we uncovered a fundamental flaw in Helioslough’s traffic modelling?
November 24th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Hands off Herts, Sandy's blog, Uncategorized
Tags:Helioslough·Park Street·Radlett·railfreight·Sandy Walkington·St Albans·STRiFE
Supporting the military covenant
November 8th, 2009 · No Comments · Uncategorized
For once I did not go to one of the formal Remembrance Sunday services today and went instead to the gentle celebration in Francesca’s Catholic church. It is extraordinary how a commemorative day which was beginning to die on its feet has found new vigour and purpose – not least because of the very real [...]
Tags:military covenant·Remembrance Day·Royal British Legion·soldiers pay
More rail misery for FCC commuters
October 30th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Uncategorized
There are times when I am so relieved not to be a daily commuter any more. I have just heard of the other side of the coin from this morning’s optimistic announcement about the Abbey Flyer service, which is of course part of the London Midland franchise.
Back in the topsy turvy world of the First [...]
Tags:FCC·First Capital Connect·RailUK·Sandy Walkington·St Albans
Signal Success in tour of Architectural Highlights
October 15th, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog, Uncategorized
For too long St Albans South Signal Box was a paint-peeling eyesore at the entrance to St Albans. So it was a fantastic thing when local residents in Ridgmont Road decided over a pint that they could and would rescue it. It now glistens in old Midland Railway scarlet livery, is open to the public [...]
Tags:St Albans Civic Society·St Albans signal box·St Albans Town Hall·STARTS
Time for a complete rethink of the rail franchise system
September 22nd, 2009 · No Comments · Sandy's blog, Uncategorized
Following much feedback from long-suffering St Albans commuters, I brought the issue of rail company performance and over high fares to the floor of the Liberal Democrat conference today by moving a motion on the reform of rail franchises.
I was calling for longer terms for rail franchises – subject to stringent periodic review – to [...]
Tags:FCC·First Capital Connect·London Midland·Lord Adonis·rail franchise·St Albans City Station·Thameslink
Debate on MP expenses
September 21st, 2009 · No Comments · Uncategorized
I have just spoken at Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth on the issue of MP expenses. Here is what I said:
Most people don’t have an expense account, never have, never will. Those relatively few that do are used to proper checking and monitoring as a matter of course.
I ran large teams at director level in [...]