HELIOSLOUGH is not contesting a survey of potential occupiers of the railfreight terminal showing most want national or regional distribution centres, its planning expert has admitted.

When Mr Reed asked Mr Tilley whether he accepted a survey of retailers commissioned by the council he replied: “I am sure the survey has been done with integrity, but it is a rather small sample.”

He also acknowledged that site studies for other railfreight terminal projects had looked at larger areas than the north-west sector of the M25.