RESIDENTS feel it would offer 'no benefit' to a community to develop a rail link to the country's leading airport.

Public consultations have been held in the Iver and Richings Park area to gauge residents views on the potential Western Rail Link to Heathrow (WRLtH).

Residents of Iver, Iver Heath and Richings Park viewed the plans at Richings Park Golf Club on Tuesday and Wednesday, with some expressing concerns at the potential impact on the area.

The WRLtH, a fast rail link from the west of England to Heathrow Airport with stops at Reading, Twyford, Maidenhead and Slough, would include the construction of a tunnel from Langley railway station, with it resurfacing at Heathrow, but the initial plans do not include the train service stopping at Langley station.

It is also proposed to close Hollow Hill Lane near to Langley station, which residents feel would only have a negative impact.

A resident of Iver Heath and Maplin Park, who did not wish to be named, said: "A lot of residents work in Uxbridge or commute to Heathrow via Hollow Hill Lane.

"It is a very popular commuting road and the alternative is going through Langley, Iver or Iver Village.

"It is a disadvantage and would have no benefit and is only going to have a negative impact on Langley and Iver."

Richings Park resident Graeme Jenner added: "It is a good proposal and helps rail links, particularly for Heathrow. But our problem locally is that the whole plan is going to have a major impact on the local area in terms of increased traffic, noise and environmental damage.

"Hollow Hill Lane is a very effective road that joins up Langley and Iver to the A4 and up to the M40 in the north. This closure will force more traffic to Iver High Street and the proposal is only going to exacerbate that problem."

Network Rail advisors at the public meeting on Wednesday said that the initial assessments they had made deemed Hollow Hill Lane to not be a 'major road'.

But they were prepared to reconsider depending what residents had to say as part of the consultation, and were in discussions with the local authority to look at what mitigation measures could be put in place.

They also added that the plans to not stop at Langley railway station were due to scheduling issues, with Elizabeth Line services also running through the station, but that could change once more detailed train schedules had been developed.

Further consultation events are due to be held at Iver Pavilion in Iver Recreation Ground on Monday 4-8pm, Tuesday 12-4pm and Wednesday 12-4pm.

The event will also visit Langley Pavilion in Langley Road on Thursday 12-4pm and Friday, March 4 from 4-8pm, Horsemoor Green Community Centre in Common Road, Slough on Monday, March 7 12-4pm, Tuesday, March 8 12-4pm and Wednesday, March 9 4-8pm.

It will visit Colnbrook Village Hall in Vicarage Way tomorrow (Saturday) from 12-4pm and Colbrook Westfield Centre in Severn Crescent on Thursday, March 10 12-4pm and Saturday, March 12 12-4pm.