HELIOSLOUGH'S sites assessment has not properly considered the merits of rival locations, according to the council's barrister Matthew Reed.

Seeking to discredit the study in his cross-examination of Richard Tilley, he took the example of White Waltham near Maidenhead, currently occupied by a flying club's airfield.

He accused: “You excluded it from the short-list as there was no prospect of it becoming available.

“If it had performed worse in comparison to Radlett, you would have left it in wouldn't you?

“This site is a real contender, and it has the potential to become available.”

Mr Tilley replied: “What would be the point of doing a detailed analysis - it is on the wrong side of the railway. There is an obvious site on the other side of the railway which is better for getting an assessment of the whole area.”

Mr Reed responded: “So you excluded White Waltham because it is on the wrong side of the railway – but so is Radlett.”