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Decision imminent on rail-freight plan
Page 8
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A LOGISTICS COMPANY planning to build a rail-freight depot with 198,000m2of warehousing is about to find out if its bid has been successful.
Controversy has surrounded the proposal since 2004, when Prologis applied to build on green belt land in Howbury Park, Kent. Bexley Council, Dartford Borough Council and local residents have opposed the plan, which includes a new access road and lifting bridge over the River Cray, associated parking and landscaping.
After the councils refused permission a public inquiry was set up; it is due to make its decision at the end of May.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone supports the scheme, subject to some environmental concerns; he has written to the inquiry backing the transfer of freight from road to rail.
A spokesman for Bexley Council says: "There are a number of reasons the applications failed, the main one being on green belt policygrounds. In addition, insufficient information was provided to show that the application would be used as a rail freight depot there were concerns it would be used as an enormous road distribution depot.
"Some of the site is part of the neighbouring borough of Dartford."
A Prologis spokesman points out that the scheme would create 2,500 jobs and cut truck use by 178 million kilometres a year, 52% of which would be within the UK.