HELIOSLOUGH chairman Trevor Cartner has defended his company s determination to build a rail freight depot on Radlett Airfield in response to a letter from an objector. Nic Pearce, of Park Street, wrote to Mr Cartner to voice a number of concerns about th

HELIOSLOUGH chairman Trevor Cartner has defended his company's determination to build a rail freight depot on Radlett Airfield in response to a letter from an objector.

Nic Pearce, of Park Street, wrote to Mr Cartner to voice a number of concerns about the scheme and what he saw as a "thinly-veiled threat" by Helioslough's consultant Simon Hoare at the planning referrals meeting last week that the company would consider seeking costs if the council turned it down.

Mr Cartner admits that Helioslough is aware of the level of opposition to the scheme but maintains that they not only have a good planning case to support the development but also can address issues of concern to local residents through conditions and planning obligations.

He stressed that Mr Hoare was only pointing out that the council should bear in mind the potential claim for costs that "rehearsing failed reasons for refusal" could bring and at no time did he say the council could not refuse the application.

Turning to the question of deliverability, Mr Cartner pointed out that if Helioslough felt there was no demand for rail-linked warehousing or was not certain that the Midland Main Line could accommodate the freight trains and Network Rail find paths for them, they would not be pursuing the planning application.

He added: "You are not correct to say that trains cannot enter or leave the site - they can. It is also incorrect to say that we have not explored alternative sites - we have and there is a detailed Alternative Sites Study available for public inspection at the council offices.