DEVELOPERS HelioSlough have revealed that they have submitted a challenge to last month’s decision not to allow the building of a massive rail freight depot on Radlett Airfield.

DEVELOPERS HelioSlough have revealed that they have submitted a challenge to last month’s decision not to allow the building of a massive rail freight depot on Radlett Airfield.

They have challenged the decision by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, to dismiss the appeal on the issue of whether or not there were suitable alternative sites.

Mike Hughes of HelioSlough said: “We have not reached the decision to go to law lightly. Since the publication of the appeal decision we have given the situation very deep thought.

“We are convinced that the Secretary of State has made the wrong decision and the only recourse we now have, under planning law, is for the court to look at the issues and provide a ruling.”

HelioSlough have been to appeal twice over their plans for a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) on Radlett Airfield which they argue would alleviate road-based freight traffic in an increasingly congested part of the country.

The scheme would involve parking for thousands of cars, five large warehouses - one of which would be as big as Heathrow’s Terminal Five - and a new by-pass for Park Street.

Although the planning inspector at the last inquiry recommended that Helioslough’s appeal should be upheld, Mr Pickles dismissed it on the grounds that a smaller proposal could be developed at Colnbrook in Essex.