Last chance to object to freight ‘super hub’ in Cricklewood

A billboard has gone up urging people to object to a freight super hub in Cricklewood (Picture: NorthWest2 Residents Association) (Image: Archant)

A consultation on Barnet Council’s planning portal ends today. The application is to turn a railyard off the A5 behind Lidl into a freight hub.

However protestors have come out in their droves with over 500 objections made. They cite extreme environmental issues as the cause of their concerns as well severe traffic disruption. It is thought around 500 extra lorries could be on local roads every day if the application is successful.

DB Cargo, the UK’s largest rail freight hauler, has a 125 year lease on the land, which is owned by National Rail, until 2121,

DB Cargo and the London Borough of Barnet would like to transform the rail yard, which is opposite the bus depot on Edgware Road, into a storage area for lorries to pick up aggregates, material used in construction, such as sand and gravel.

At the time of publishing, there have only been two votes in support of the proposal with 525 objections made.

Mark Spivey commented that the project is “entirely inappropriate in what is predominantly a residential area” whilst Tara McBrearty said: “As a local resident living in Cricklewood I cannot object more strongly to this. This idea is ludricous, adding hundreds of HGV’s EVERY DAY to the already over congested A5 is crazy - the area can’t cope with the traffic we have, let alone adding more.

“The dust, dirt and increased pollution this would bring is unthinkable for me, my husband and young son. The A5 through Cricklewood already has some of the worst air quality records and you propose making this worse!!

“You are proposing adding this within metres of a primary school where young children should be able to play and enjoy fresh air. This is not fair and definitely not wanted by any residents!”

Click here and search reference number 17/5761/EIA to view the application.