Defeated rail depot protesters turn attention to limiting impact
Campaigners who unsuccessfully attempted to prevent a huge rail depot from being built in South Staffordshire say they are now likely to turn their attention to mitigating the impact of the development.
Villagers opposed to the West Midlands Interchange have been assessing their options since the development, the size of 430 football pitches, was given the green light by the Government last month.
Leaders of the Stop the West Midlands Interchange group said launching a judicial review would likely cost £50,000 and therefore was not something they could consider on their own. South
Staffordshire Council is understood to be considering its next move. Any legal challenges to the Government's decision must be lodged by the middle of June.
Donna Gilmartin, who heads the protest group, says members have been assured they will be given seats on a development steering group, to ensure residents get the best deal possible.
Officials in Staffordshire have vowed to do all they can to limit the impact of the rail depot, which will be built next to the M6 at Gailey, and create up to 8,500 jobs. The site was chosen by developer Four Ashes Ltd due to its close proximity to the West Coast Mainline and motorway.
Locals say the scheme will destroy the green belt and cause traffic chaos.
Ms Gilmartin said: "There has to be a really good reason to raise a judicial review. We will probably work with the council now on the steering group to make sure the developer follows the development consent orders and puts in anything to mitigate that we can think of.
"We want to work with the council on the steering group to look after the residents."
She added: "There's nothing our group can do now. It would cost £50,000 to get a judicial review going and we would have to find that money. We knew pretty much straight away we wouldn't be able to fund that."
