§ Mr. HurdI desire to present a humble Petition from the residents in the Borough and district of Newbury in the county of Berks. It bears 10,330 signatures.
The Petition states that the Air Ministry seek to construct a permanent airfield on Greenham and Crookham Commons at a distance of 1½ miles from the centre of the town of Newbury; that this proposal would entail for the local people the loss for ever of ancient common land and liberties which are essential parts of that peaceful way of life which the defence programme is designed to protect; and that the petitioners are far from satisfied that there is no adequate alternative site for the proposed airfield.
The Petition concludes with the prayer:
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that the proposal for a permanent airfield on Greenham and Crookham Commons, Newbury, be abandoned. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.