Go-ahead for Alconbury depot

The Alconbury depot was first suggested eight years ago

Controversial plans to build a road and rail freight depot near Huntingdon have been given the go-ahead by the government.

The scheme for the former Alconbury RAF air base, on the Cambridgeshire border with Northamptonshire, could mean the creation of hundreds of new jobs.

The plans, which were first proposed eight years ago, are for Britain's most modern freight distribution depot.

The go-ahead was given by the deputy prime minister on Thursday.

The scheme will mean a new rail link from the East Coast Main line into the disused airfield.

'Huge potential'

Alconbury Developments welcomed Thursday's announcement.

A spokesman said: "At last we can begin to put the uncertainty about the future of the site behind us and get on with unlocking the huge potential that exists here."

But not everyone is pleased. Many feel a freight depot will add more traffic to the already congested A14 and A1 trunk roads.

A local protest group, Huntsnap, has been campaigning against the plans.

Their objections were put forward at a full public inquiry in 2001, the results of which were passed to the government.

Alconbury is also being considered as a new base for low-cost airlines.

An announcement on this scheme is expected just before Christmas.