HC Deb 07 December 1951 vol 494 c323W
Mr. Porter

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any investigation was made as to the suitability of the site at Greenham Common before a decision was taken to authorise the construction of this airfield; and to what extent their decision was based on the recommendations of those responsible for the investigation.

Mr. Birch

A full investigation into the suitability of the site at Greenham Common was made before the decision to construct the airfield here was taken. This investigation included load bearing tests on the sub-soil and 42 borings were taken. It was recognised that the siting of some of, the aircraft dispersal areas might give rise to difficulty but it was, and still is, considered that this disadvantage was far outweighed by the favourable nature of the site as a whole. The decision to develop this airfield took account of this investigation of the site.