HC Deb 17 November 1954 vol 533 cc383-4
21. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what consideration has been given to the erection of helicopter landing stages over Blackfriars or Hungerford Bridges.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Neither bridge could bear the weight of a helicopter platform, which would therefore have to stand on an independent structure. This would be very expensive, and probably also obstruct navigation.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

If I send the right hon. Gentleman details of a carefully worked out plan prepared for the Lambeth Civic Society by a local architect, which gets over all these problems successfully, will the right hon. Gentleman have them examined by his experts? It may be the answer to one of these difficulties anyhow.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I should be very glad to examine any details which the hon. and gallant Member sends to me.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

Will my right hon. Friend take care to see that one of the finest views in the world is not obstructed in this way?

Mr. J. T. Price

Even if either of these bridges could stand the weight of a helicopter station, could the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the proceedings in this House would be audible above the infernal noise that this traffic would cause?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Noise is an important factor in helicopter operations and, as my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary pointed out the other day, manufacturers of these machines are doing their best to make them quieter.