THE need for a railfreight depot on the former Handley Page airfield has wide support across the industry, Helioslough's barrister Martin Kingston has told the inquiry.

Continuing his closing statement this afternoon, he said: “Railtrack had identified this site for an SRFI prior to any involvement from Helioslough or any private sector operator.

“Finding a site which can operate as an SRFI without causing unacceptable residential amenity, highway, landscape or ecological impacts is a very difficult task.

“As the Secretary of State concluded on the last occasion, that has been achieved here.

“Network Rail, as guardian of the network, suppports the proposals.

“DB Schenker, with all its expertise as the biggest rail distributor in Europe, considers this site is ideally suited.”