HELIOSLOUGH'S planning expert has defended his alternative sites study from criticism, insisting he has used a robust method.

Responding to comment's from the council's expert that he had not looked at sites moore than five kilometres from a railway, he said: “Most of those sites are in the Chilterns Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty.

“You only have to look at a map.

“It is an area of valleys and ridges up to 60 metres high.

“It would be difficult to put a strategic rail freight interchange there without huge works.”

Asked why he had not considered reopening disused rail lines, he said: “There are very few disused lines capable of being re-opened.

“Ironically most are in the St Albans area. They are used as footpaths and for other leisure purpopses, and are no doubt much valued.”

He rejected the council's alternative study, which places more weight on the classification of roads around sites, saying: “There are numerous villages which have A roads going right through the middle of them."