Lib Dem County Councillor for St Albans South, Sandy Walkington, has condemned the county council’s recommendation that it enters into a section 106 agreement with Helioslough for the Park Street freight terminal and sells its land to allow the development to go ahead.

“St Albans and Park Street were stabbed in the front by Eric Pickles when he suddenly reversed his previous position and said he was minded to approve the scheme,” Sandy said. “Now we are being stabbed in the back by his Conservative colleagues at County Hall.

“They seem to be taking the position that they are bound to agree because the Secretary of State said the proposal is ‘in the public interest’. Well it certainly isn’t in Hertfordshire’s interest and the county council’s duty is to stand up for Hertfordshire.

“There are so many reasons why this is a truly awful thing to do to St Albans. The words ‘thirty pieces of silver’ come to mind,” said Sandy , who is passionate about protecting St Albans from inappropriate development.

St Stephens County Cllr Aislinn Lee added her own condemnation: “I will be at the meeting on December 9th with Lib Dem colleagues an we will all be opposing this terrible recommendation by all possible means.”