THE council has admitted flaws in its alternative sites assessment.

John Hargreaves, the council's planning expert, admitted it overlooked planning policies which apply to certain locations identified in its assessment as more suitable locations for a railfreight terminal.

Helioslough's barrister Martin Kingston questioned: "Even in the short time we have had this study available to us, there is some deficiences in it, isn't there?" To which Mr Hargreaves replied 'yes'.