The Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, has today announced the public inquiry into controversial proposals for a rail freight terminal near Radlett is "unnecessary".

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Mr Pickles, has said he is "satisfied" that he will determine the Radlett proposal, described as the "biggest planning application Hertfordshire has ever seen", on the basis of the evidence before him.

He has already deferred the Helioslough proposal twice and invited views on reopening the inquiry into Radlett and conjoining it with the inquiry in to the rail freight depot in Colnbrook, Slough.

However, today he announced he was against the conjoining.