§ 44. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation whether he can now give the details of restarting the air services across the Bristol Channel from South Wales; how often this service will operate and the charges that will be made.
Mr. Ivor ThomasThe air service between Cardiff and Weston-super-Mare will be opened as soon as the ground organisation can be completed. It is proposed to use D.H.89 aircraft and to operate an intensive shuttle service according to the traffic. The fares will be 9s. single and 16s. 6d. return. The service will later be extended to Bristol. The aerodromes to be used are Pengam Moors (for Cardiff), Whitchurch (for Bristol), and Weston-super-Mare, The arrangements for the 1214 handling of passengers will at first be of an extempore nature.
§ Mr. FreemanWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, which will be very welcome to the people of South Wales, may I ask him further whether this service will link up with other services in the country, whether any notice or booking in advance will be necessary, and whether garage facilities will be available for passengers?
Mr. ThomasWhen the service is extended to Bristol it will link up, eventually, with services in all parts of the country. Naturally, there will not be connections from Weston-super-Mare, where the traffic will be of a seasonal nature. It is planned to operate it as an intensive shuttle service, so that as passengers come along they will be taken, and it will not be necessary to have a timetable.