Prestwick Airport (Hansard, 18 March 1959)

§ 44 Sir T. Moore
asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) when he estimates the heavier jet aircraft will require to use the main runway at Prestwick; and how long he estimates it would take to construct a tunnel under the main runway to take the traffic from and through Monkton to Prestwick and Ayr;
(2) whether, in view of the continuing opposition of the Ayr County Council and other interested parties to the diversion of the main Glasgow road as part of the proposed development of Prestwick Airport and the relief to be afforded to traffic by the new by-pass between Prestwick and Ayr, he will now reconsider his decision to build the proposed loop road round the main runway at Prestwick Airport and rely instead upon the existing road across the runway, with its present safety precautions, and the new by-pass to meet the needs of local and main traffic;
(3) if he has considered the protest made by the churchgoers and other residents of Monkton, concerning the hardships to be inflicted on them by reason of the increased distance they will have to cover to reach their parish church and the shopping centres of Prestwick through the adoption of a loop road around instead of a tunnel under the main runway at Prestwick Airport, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what reply he has sent.

§ Mr. Watkinson
With permission, I will answer Questions Nos. 44, 64 and 74 together.

§ Sir T. Moore
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. This courtesy of the Minister, though by no means unexpected to those who know about these things, has 400 rather complicated matters for me because, although my three Questions, broadly speaking, deal with the same subject, I have a couple of pertinent and precise supplementary questions which I may wish to put.

§ Mr. Speaker
I think that the hon. Gentleman ought to listen to the Answer.

§ Mr. Watkinson
Planning and construction of a tunnel including approaches on the approximate line of the road A.77 would take over two years whereas the main runway should be available for the big jets by the summer of 1960. I have noted the concern expressed by the Presbytery of Ayr and in a petition from people living or working in Monkton. I have decided to allow continued access for as long as possible over the present runway crossing, but an indefinite continuation of the present temporary arrangements will, I am afraid, be impossible on safety grounds. Once the loop road round the end of the extended runway is in use, I believe that experience will show that it is a practicable alternative.

§ Sir T. Moore
Since my right hon. Friend the Minister has so fully answered the three Questions, I feel that I have no supplementary question that I can properly put, except to ask, as the matter is of such importance to my constituents, whether my right hon. Friend will consider either himself or his deputy coming to Prestwick and consulting with the local people, the local authorities, and all those interested in the whole problem?

§ Mr. Watkinson
Certainly. I hope hope that my hon. Friend will be able to come up to Prestwick very soon after the Easter Recess.

§ Sir T. Moore
I am very much obliged.

§ Mr. Ross
Is the Minister aware that, if he had taken the advice of the Ayr County Council long ago, the tunnel would have been constructed already and none of the excuses or alibis he presently puts forward for further staving things off would have been justified? Is he aware that the feeling is very strong in Ayrshire that the settled life of an old community is being disrupted in the interests more of economy than of the proper development of the area?

§ Mr. Watkinson
That is what I had in mind in my original Answer.