Air pollution and extra traffic are the top concerns of parents of pupils at a school close to a proposed new motorway service station.

Families with children at St Paul’s School in Langleybury are “extremely concerned” about potential health and safety problems that might occur if Moto Hospitality Limited build a service station at Junction 20 of the M25 near Kings Langley.

Watford Observer:

Parents listed “high levels of poor-quality air”, more traffic on the A41 during construction - particularly heavy goods vehicles, and despoilment of Green Belt Land from litter dropped by people using takeaway shops and restaurants as major problems.

The group are also concerned about potential respiratory problems, dizziness, headaches, nausea and longer-term damage caused to their children by diesel engines.

Watford Observer:

Their anxiety follows strong opposition by the Kings Langley & District Residents Association who voiced similar concerns.

Moto submitted an outline planning application to Three Rivers District Council on April 11 starting a 30-day consultation period.

The motorway service operator included a range of shops, parking spaces and facilities as part of its application – including an access road off the A41 using a newly-constructed roundabout between the M25 and St. Paul’s Church.

Watford Observer:

Yvonne Stanley, who has a son at St Paul’s School, said: “As most parents with children at schools will understand, the school run is already a busy time of day, particularly trying to find a parking space near the gates.

“We are really concerned the extra traffic caused by the construction of this development will mean more pollution and parking problems – as there is already limited parking available and when the children are crossing the road to get to and from school and to the church it will be more dangerous.”

Watford Observer:

Sarah Hayes, whose daughter also attends the school, added: “This will cause so much disruption to us while being constructed. We are really concerned that when the lorries are using the stretch of the A41 from Junction 20 to 19 to turnaround, they will reach the limit of miles they are allowed to drive without stopping to rest. This means they will have to use the limited parking near the school to take a break and we won’t be able to drop off and collect our children safely.

“If these plans are approved, we are also concerned about the increase in litter created by the various shops and restaurants planned on this development, which is already a big problem across Watford. We don’t want the school and its surrounding area to be covered with litter as this is not a good example for the children.”

Watford Observer:

The children are holding a note that says: “Dear Three Rivers District Council please protect us and stop this development #cleanair #pollution”

As part of Moto’s application, it proposes to install a Greggs, M&S Simply Food, WHSmith, KFC, Burger King, Costa Coffee and a games centre within a 4,560sq m building.

There will also be a fuel filling station with 16 parking spaces, a drive thru Costa Coffee and a 2,319sq m 80-bed “lodge”.

Construction is expected to start in 2020.

The Liberal Democrats started a petition opposing the service station last year. Details can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/ServiceStations