A CRUCIAL plank of Helioslough's argument for its railfreight project is seriously flawed, according to the council's latest witness.

The company argues that government policy documents require railfreight depots in each of the four quadrants of the Home Counties.

Its alternative sites assessment examines only five locations in the north-west sector, concluding that the former Handley Page airfield is the most suitable.

But the council's alternative study, presented to the inquiry yesterday, considers about 20 sites across the whole of the Home Counties, and concludes there are at least six better ones, including locations in Kent, Surrey and Essex.

The council's planning expert John Hargreaves, asked about a policy document which stresses the need for railfreight terminals, said: “The draft refers to the north-west sector.

“The final version just says 'in the region'.

“There isn't a sound basis for specifying the north-west sector.

"EERA (the East of England Regional Assembly) prefer a railfreight terminal in the east of the region.”

The issue is likely to be critical, as the company's first appeal would probably have succeeded but for flaws in its sites assessment, which it claims now to have rectified.