AIR MINISTRY (CROYDON AERODROME EXTENSION) BILL. (Hansard, 21 May 1925)

§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY)

My Lords, in the process of the development of our civil aviation, which is in everybody's opinion of vital importance to the future of the country, it is above all things necessary to have a sufficient provision of aerodromes, and the principal London terminal is situated at the present moment at Croydon. Unfortunately, it has been found that the provisions for the Croydon aerodrome are not sufficient under the conditions which have developed; consequently the Government have come forward with a Bill for enlarging the area. Croydon is a very important terminal, as your Lordships are aware, because it is from that terminal that the cross-Channel services go every day, and nothing, therefore, can exceed its importance.

Two years ago the Civil Aviation Advisory Board considered this matter, and they reported that certain enlargements were essential. The Air Ministry, to whom the aerodrome belonged, had already purchased the necessary land, but this extra land was divided from the existing land by a road, and it is vital that the traffic down that road should he abolished, otherwise the land cannot be used for the purposes of the aerodrome. That explains shortly the purpose of this Bill. The first step was to see whether it was not possible by means of the existing law, through the agency of Quarter Sessions, to get the road or lane shut up, but that was not possible. because it was not open to the Air Ministry to contend that, for local purposes, the alternative road they were prepared to provide was the shortest for the inhabitants, which, as your Lordships know, is an essential 427 condition before you can shut a right of way. Therefore, it is necessary to come to Parliament in order to get the necessary power.

I do not doubt that your Lordships will be willing to give the power when you consider that this is a. vital matter for the aerodrome and that the development of civil aviation is as important as I have suggested it is. There is this additional consideration. Your Lordships will remember that, at Christmas, there was a most deplorable accident just as a machine was starting from the Croydon aerodrome. The loss of life led to an Inquiry and, although that Inquiry did not find that the narrowness of the ground was a principal cause of the accident, the jury did find that it may have been a contributory cause. I do not want to put that too high, but it, is an additional reason why this extra land should be acquired and the right of way closed. It is for these reasons that I submit this Bill. It is a very simple, straightforward measure, but if there is any matter which requires elucidation, I am at the service of the House to explain it.

The only matter I need mention is in Clause 5, where there are certain modifications in the Lands Clauses Acts as applying in this particular case. In the first place, the obligation to sell superfluous land within a certain period is dispensed with, because there will be no superfluous land. There is also a provision under which the Air Ministry may get immediate access to the ground pending the completion of the purchase; this is necessary because of the urgency of the matter. I need not say that compensation is properly secured and if there is any doubt this Bill has to go before the Private Bill Committee, so that all the precautions and safeguards have been taken and your Lordships may safely give it a Second Reading.