RESIDENTS affected by the building of a freight-rail link through the Chilterns will receive the full market price for their property, Central Railway has announced.

Central Railway's Liverpool to Lille railway scheme is still in very early stages and nothing will be brought before the Government for at least a year.

But a statement from the Central Railway to Midweek has stated: "The extension of Central Railway's compensation scheme is part of the revised proposals which Central Railway is currently beginning to discuss on a preliminary basis with local councils."

Central Railway's development director Robert Raffety said: "We will not promote our railway at the expense of our neighbours.

"It is, we think, a very sound and fair and a very generous scheme."

He said residents would be guaranteed a buyer for their house, if the freight-rail link affected them.

But he said millions of pounds invested into the rail line and the technologically advanced trains, would ensure no extra noise.

MP David Lidington said he was sceptical of the latest plans to run a freight link through South Bucks.

The Conservative MP for Aylesbury, who represents Princes Risborough, met with Mr Raffety at the House of Commons on Wednesday.

He said: "I said to him that I started, as did my constituents, from a position of scepticism from our experience of their last proposal. I pressed him very strongly to make sure that they involve local people and the town and parish councils."

He said he did not disagree with the principle of carrying freight on trains.

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