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Tuesday 14 Oct 2003

AGREED! NETWORK RAIL IS ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO BRINGING THE RAILWAY BACK TO MARCH

Region & Route:

| Southern

Last night, Cambridgeshire County Council’s Development Control Committee accepted Network Rail’s planning application to redevelop the former marshalling yard in March. Peter Heubeck, Network Rail Project Director said: “Network Rail would like to thank everyone who has supported us in this planning application process.  The County’s decision is yet another step forward in bring the railway back to March.  It is now for the Regional Government Office to give us the final seal of approval.  In 21 days or less we will be able to start building our regional engineering depot which is essential for both East Anglia’s railway network and the people of March, bringing regeneration, financial growth and jobs to the town.  “The whole application process has been made much smoother by the support we have received.  Since the exhibition in April we have been touched by the public’s kind words and encouragement. - more - Agreed - 2 “We are aware that the development has been of concern to some of the site’s neighbours, this was again expressed at last night’s meeting.  As a result we will be discussing noise measurements and ways in which we can periodically monitor this with the County Council.  We are still confident, however, that the mitigating measures within the planning application and the County Council’s planning conditions will minimise affects the development may have. “We need to get this site open for April 2004, so if the Regional Government Office ratifies the County’s recommendation, expect to see plenty of people on site working hard, to transfer this waste land into a useful and beneficial engineering depot. “Throughout the build we will be regularly updating the public on work activities, enabling them to become involved in the process as much as possible.  This depot is for the railway, but it is also for March and we want you to feel a sense of ownership.      “We will continue to complete the security fencing and final environmental surveys, which includes the archaeological investigations.  We will then, within three weeks, hopefully, be able to start levelling the ground in preparation for the engineering sidings. The materials we need to complete the sidings will be brought in by rail, including new rails, sleepers and ballast.             “Once again, thank you.”