HC Deb 22 June 1967 vol 748 cc318-9W
Mr. Elystan Morgan

asked the Postmaster-General what further plans have been made for the development of the ultra high frequency network of stations for B.B.C.2.

Mr. Edward Short

I have now approved in principle the building of a further sixteen high-power U.H.F. stations.

If all goes well the B.B.C. plan to open these stations at a rate of three or four a year, beginning in 1970, and to complete the programme early in 1974. The stations will serve the following areas:

Carmarthen Ayrshire
Cardigan North Kent
Dorset East Devon
Inverness Pembrokeshire
Cumberland South Devon
West Cornwall Caernarvonshire
Selkirk and Berwick West Sussex
Herefordshire Dunbarton

Eleven of the new stations will probably be built at the sites of existing stations at Blaen Plwyf, Rosemarkie, Caldbeck, Redruth, Selkirk, Ridge Hill, Hard Hill, Stockland Hill, Presely, Arfon and Rosneath. New sites will have to be found for the other five.

When these stations and the twenty-eight already approved are completed, B.B.C.2 will be available to almost 90 per cent. of the population of the United Kingdom.

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