HC Deb 17 July 1957 vol 573 cc1131-4
36. Mr. Beswick

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the estimated total cost of the air terminal buildings now under construction at Cromwell Road; for how long it is estimated they will be adequate for the processing of British European Airways passengers; and what arrangements are now being made for the provision of a terminal capable of accommodating the passenger requirements of British European Airways, British Overseas Airways Corporation, the foreign airlines for whom they act as agents, and other independent operators in five years' time.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Airey Neave)

My right hon. Friend is informed by Air Terminals, Ltd., the private company which is developing the new terminal at the Cromwell Curve, that the buildings now under construction will cost £250,000 and will be adequate for the requirements of short-haul operators for ten years. The site is capable of extensive further development. I understand, however, that B.O.A.C. do not propose to use this terminal, but intend first to develop their present terminal in Buckingham Palace Road.

Mr. Beswick

Does not the Joint Parliamentary Secretary agree that there is a certain amount of drift in this matter? Is he aware that this is the third air terminal since the war which B.E.A. have had to build, and that it will still be inadequate for future needs? In view of the necessity of co-ordinating the requirements of the different air transport companies, and also in view of the fact that the railway link with London Airport is bound up with this question, will he not ask his right hon. Friend to devote more of his time to this matter?

Mr. Neave

My right hon. Friend is certainly devoting a considerable amount of his time to this matter. I agree with the hon. Member that this is bound up with the railway link, with the future of the new Cromwell Curve Terminal, and also of the B.O.A.C. building at Buckingham Palace Road. The matter is still under consideration between the airline Corporations and the British Transport Commission

Mr. Langford-Holt

Will there be a stopping place for B.O.A.C. passengers who arrive at London Airport and who wish to get out in West London areas, rather than having to go into the centre of the most congested area?

Mr. Neave

Nothing has been arranged at the moment in respect of that, but I will certainly write to my hon. Friend when a decision is finally made about tit,: B.O.A.C. building.

Mr. Woodburn

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us whether Gloucester Road station will be extended in order to give an entrance to the new terminal, because the present Gloucester Road station will be very inconvenient, from the point of view of people travelling to the new terminal?

Mr. Neave

I will bear in mind what the right hon. Gentleman says and inform the British Transport Commission about it.

Mr. Rankin

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a widespread belief amongst users of the air services that a station is being made under the terminal? Is that not correct? Are we to understand that we must go from the terminal to Gloucester Road?

Mr. Neave

No, I do not think that is quite correct. There is no station being made under the terminal. The construction of the terminal at the moment is on the approach to station itself.

37. Mr. Russell

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, in view of the successful building of a London terminal for British European Airways over the underground railway off Cromwell Road, if he will have a survey made to find out where else in the London area other main line or underground railways could be built over in this way.

Mr. Neave

Because of the high cost of construction and the limited number of suitable sites, this matter does not lend itself to general treatment. It is for the British Transport Commission to consider the possibilities of individual sites with would-be developers.

Mr. Russell

While appreciating the high cost of construction, may I ask my hon. Friend if he does not agree that there must be a large number of sites on the railways leading out of London, for instance, at Paddington, King's Cross, Euston and St. Pancras, of which some use could be made, bearing in mind what has been achieved at Cromwell Road? Could not such sites be used, if not for buildings, for car parks?

Mr. Neave

The British Transport Commission is well aware of what my hon. Friend says. It is certainly prepared to consider leasing sites of this kind on commercial terms for development as car parks, and the Commission is in touch with the organisations likely to be interested.

Mr. J. Griffiths

Surely it would not be a very difficult or expensive project to construct a subway from the new air terminal to Gloucester Road station?

Mr. Neave

I will bear that point in mind, but I should like further notice of it in the form of a Question.