It is the proper reward for years of hard campaigning.

Had this awful development gone ahead, it would have irrevocably destroyed the character of our city and district and would have reduced our roads to gridlock.  Of course it is disappointing that the Inspector did not accept the powerful arguments put forward by the council, by STRiFE and by local residents.

But at a political level, the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government has shown that it understands the importance of Green Belt and that there are alternative sites for railfreight terminals where much less damage would be caused.

Three cheers for a government which shows common sense.  And congratulations too to STRiFE, to St Albans District Council, to all the local political parties who were genuinely united on this issue, and most of all to local residents and interest groups who gave evidence, put up posters, wrote letters, raised money and delivered leaflets.  It is their well-deserved triumph.

The county council deserves a good kicking for its abject failure to mount a challenge on highways grounds – that allowed the Inspector to ignore the evidence presented by David Parry and myself that the traffic generation formulae were flawed (see earlier blog entries here).  My own belief is that we have identified a serious issue which will alter the way that traffic models are constructed in other similar applications.

One final thought.  12 months ago, our City and District had the twin threats of a wholly inappropriately sized Tesco in London Road and this terrible proposal for a gigantic lorry terminal to the south of the district.  In both cases, determined campaigning by local residents, a firm stance from the council, and a blessedly united front from the political parties have seen the respective Goliaths off.

We now have to take our city and district forward with appropriate developments which go with the grain of our ancient and wonderful community.

We can now get an appropriately mixed development at London Road – who knows, a primary school, perhaps a small shopping centre, housing of course, all done in a way that respects the scale of the city centre.  I hope there will be an intelligent planning brief for the site but equally no delay.

Meanwhile only yesterday I was talking to market stallholders whose site is outside the former Woolworths.  They were so sad at the decline of St Peters Street at the Hatfield Road end.  They knew there was a possibility of a reinvigorated city centre Tesco and they were looking forward to it as a magnet and anchor.

Well Tesco looks to have delivered – full marks to them.

We are in the consultation phase for the new Local Development Framework for St Albans – what used to be called the Structure Plan when I was small.  Sites for supermarkets?  Where could a new school go?  Do we have to build on the Green Belt?  The final document produced from this process will help define the answers.

There have been a number of local meetings to give residents the opportunity to hear straight from the horse’s mouth – or Chris Brazier and Robert Donald to give them their proper names.  The one in the Homewood Road church hall in Marshalswick was particularly well attended, so was the meeting organised by the Sopwell Residents’ Association in the Marlborough Pavilion.  Tonight I am going to the meeting for Colney Heath which is happening at the Charles Morris Hall in Tyttenhanger Green.

The Liberal Democrats also organised a “pasta and politics” evening (see photo above) where Cllr Melvyn Teare and Peter Trevelyan of the Civic Society talked about the complementary work being done to create a “City Vision” for the centre of St Albans.  Do we move the City Museum?  Where might a cinema go?  Chould the chaotic and unsightly Drovers Way area be redeveloped to provide a new network of shopping streets?  What happens to St Peters Street?

You can see a detailed exhibition of the City Vision work in one of the Maltings shop units opposite Costa Coffee until 26th September.  The council’s website has all the documentation on the Local Development Framework – see it here.

It’s really important that local residents comment – either by downloading the questionnaire and filling it in, or by completing the survey on-line.  The more involvement can be demonstrated, the more robust the plan will be when it comes to final approval by the Inspector.  And if the plan clearly shows for example that London Road is not the right place for a giant Tesco superstore and that this has been endorsed by local residents, that will enormously strengthen the council’s hand.