A GROUP of Parkend residents fighting plans for a rail freight depot near their homes is overjoyed that county planners have turned down the scheme.
One of the residents, Sue Carr, whose home is the former Old railway Inn which would have been just a few feet from a level crossing if it had been pressed into operation, said she was "delighted".
However she added she was suspicious that there was some hidden reason for the decision.
"I don't think that just public opinion could have that sort of effect," she said.
"And I think the community could come up with other more imaginative schemes for using the Coalfields Regeneration cash that would have gone into the project.
"However I notice we were not offered the cash or asked to find alternative uses."
Terry Smith, who lives in Railway Cottages, also close to the rail line that would serve the proposed depot, said several people were very glad that it had been stopped.
And he thanked Forest MP Diana Organ for her help in making sure the protest against the "terrible" proposal was heard effectively.