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Inconsistent planning decision near Heathrow penalises rail freight26th August 2002 Freight on Rail is shocked that the Government has rejected the planning application for a rail freight terminal at the London International Freight Exchange near Heathrow. It is bemused by the inconsistency of the Government’s transport strategy. It refused permission for a rail freight terminal which would remove millions of lorry miles from overcrowded local roads because it was partly in green belt, while giving permission only nine months ago to build neighbouring Terminal Five partly in green belt. Freight on Rail is a partnership between the rail freight operators, the Rail Freight Group, the transport trade unions and Transport 2000 working to promote the modal shift to rail freight. The location at Colnbrook is one of the few available and suitable locations in the south-east to build a major rail freight hub needed in the region to promote the modal shift from the congested road network to rail. The project undertaken by Argent Plc. which only encompassed 20 hectares of green belt, would have facilitated the increase in international, express and FMCG rail freight, which is a central plank of the Strategic Rail Authority’s Strategic Plan of January 2002. Freight on Rail Co-ordinator Philippa Edmunds said "This is silly season transport policy. A rail freight terminal at Colnbrook which could remove millions of lorry journeys from south-west London’s already overcrowded roads is refused on the grounds that it was to be built on green belt, while neighbouring Heathrow Terminal 5 was given the go-ahead on green belt. Given the Government’s Ten Year Plan commitment to increase rail freight by 80 per cent over the ten year period and its own strategic authority recommendation to approve the plan, it is hard to comprehend the rationale behind the refusal. The SRA identified the need for four terminals in the SE region, where 32 per cent of the UK population reside, and this strategic site was one of the few suitable locations. Rail freight which produces 80 per cent less carbon than road transport can play a key part in alleviating road congestion, but it needs planning permission for rail freight interchanges." She
concluded, "The Government must ensure that this decision
does not set a damaging precedent for future private sector rail
freight terminal development funding. Argent Plc had already spent
£10m speculatively on the project over a six year period." Notes to editors: Freight
on Rail is a partnership between transport trades unions, ASLEF,
RMT and TSSA, the rail freight operators EWS and Freightliner
and Railtrack, the Rail Freight Group and Transport 2000. It works
to promote the economic, social and environmental benefits of
rail freight both nationally and locally. It advocates policy
changes that support the shift to rail and provides information
and help on freight related issues. In particular, it aims to
help local authorities through all stages of the process such
as planning a rail-freight strategy, accessing grants and dealing
with technical matters. For
further information contact:- Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail
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