Is it yes or no for Central Rail freight plans?

1:38pm Thursday 18th October 2001

CONFUSION surrounds the future of Central Railway's plans for a 672km freight line from the north of England to France, cutting through the heart of Buckinghamshire.

Local MPs were convinced the Government was about to back a Bill in the House of Commons, which would bypass the planning process and fast-track the scheme.

Beaconsfield MP Dominic Grieve (Con) tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons opposing this and Bucks MPs, Paul Goodman (Wycombe, Con) Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham, Con) and David Lidington (Aylesbury, Con), were among those who signed it.

But last week a statement was issued by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), which had commissioned consultants to look into the Central Railway project, giving the impression the scheme was dead in the water.

The statement said the SRA had advised Central Railway that Government backing for the project could not be given at this time, because there were fundamental issues that needed more study.

But the statement was withdrawn soon after as it was given out.

It was a mistake, said an SRA spokesman. The SRA press office had prepared a number of releases about Central Railway, taking different lines. None should have been issued until a decision had been made by transport secretary Stephen Byers, the spokesman said.

Now the Buckinghamshire MPs are saying that the fact that press releases have been prepared means that a decision is due shortly.

Mr Lidington, who has put down a question to Mr Byers asking what the Government's position is, said the statement from the SRA suggested that the answer was going to be no.

But Central Railway, which met the SRA on Friday, said the SRA had assured them that the statement was not the position it intended to take.

The railway scheme involves lorries going to terminals by road and then being put on trains, to relieve traffic congestion.

Mr Grieve's motion says these huge freight terminals couldincrease lorry traffic on roads.

South Bucks district councillor Chris Whitehouse, who says a decision is imminent, is urging people to get in touch with their MPs or to write to the transport minister without delay.

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