Railfreight Inquiry: Railfreight noise <u>would</u> be disruptive

Yesterday, Anne Main attended the first day of the Railfreight Planning Inspectorate Inquiry to hear the opening submissions made by STRiFE, Helislough and St Albans District Council.

Yesterday, Anne Main attended the first day of the Railfreight Planning Inspectorate Inquiry to hear the opening submissions made by STRiFE, Helislough and St Albans District Council and expert evidence from Dr Ron Hawkes, who was cross-examined about the quality and levels of noise on the site, as a witness in support of the Council.

Anne said:

"I was disappointed to hear that the Helioslough brief attempted to convince the Inspector that the noise and sound levels on the site should not be regarded as overly intrusive, or indeed of an industrial nature.

Having listened to Dr Hawkes, I am completely of the opinion that the site operations, which will include reversing manoeuvres, gear changing, use of air brakes and loading clamour, could in no way be regarded as "non-industrial" or "non-intrusive".

Also, the developer has applied for structures on the site that would have B8 and B1/2 industrial categorisation and logically would generate industrial noise, in my opinion it is simply semantics to try and say this is all just "traffic noise", when to the residents who will be affected it will be prove to be very disruptive.

We are at a very early stage in this enquiry and I hope St Albans residents try to pop in throughout the enquiry to support the valiant fight that STRiFE and our Council are putting up. I am scheduled to speak in the second week on Thursday and will be putting up strong arguments as to why St Albans should not have this RFI inflicted upon it.""