§ 24. Mr. Kershawasked the Secretary of State for Air how much money has been expended on Kemble aerodrome since 1948; and what he estimates would be the approximate cost of extending the present runway for half a mile in the direction away from Kemble village.
§ The Secretary of State for Air (Mr. George Ward)Since April, 1948, about £400,000 has been spent on the maintenance of the airfield and buildings, and about £176,000 on new work. The cost of extending the runway for half a mile in the direction away from Kemble village is provisionally estimated at about £500,000.
§ Mr. KershawIs my right hon. Friend of the opinion that the extension of this runway in the opposite direction, so that the runway is not used close to the village, would be of considerable help to the inhabitants of the village, who are undergoing this intolerable nuisance?
§ Mr. WardThere are two things one can do. One is to extend the existing runway so as to use only the far end of it, and the other is to swing the runway round a little. Both would be equally expensive and neither would entirely solve the problem.