Anne Main MP has praised St Albans District Council for their ‘long and spirited fight’, after the local authority finally decided not to make any further legal challenges to the proposed rail freight terminal.
Last Monday, 29th June, Lord Justice Sullivan threw out the council’s application to appeal, stating that there was no real prospect of success.
Mrs Main said, ‘it wouldn’t be responsible for the council to continue their fight after the very clear decision by the judge.
‘Now the legal challenges have been exhausted, it will now be up to the County Council and the District Council to find the best way forward, balancing fiduciary duty with the needs of the district.
‘When I listened to the arguments being made in court, back in February, it was clear this was a highly nuanced case, based on the finer points of law. Once the judge made his original decision back in March, it was difficult to see how this could possibly be overturned in the courts.
‘I think that the District Council has done everything they can to resist the rail freight proposal, and should be applauded for their long and spirited fight against the development.
‘Attention will now turn to the County Council, who I hope can find ways to resist selling the land to the developer until all other avenues have been explored, and possibilities exhausted.’
Watch: Anne Main, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh, talks about the Rohingya crisis and urges support for @DECappeal pic.twitter.com/FFL0lq8O0A
— DFID (@DFID_UK) October 12, 2017