§ Sir J. Edenasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the future of Bournemouth, Hurn, Airport.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuAgreement has now been reached with the Bournemouth Corporation and Dorset County Council, whereby these two authorities will jointly purchase the freehold of the present Bournemouth (Hum) airport (apart from a small area which is at present occupied by the College of Air Traffic Control and A.T.C. Evaluation Unit, and is being retained for their use) and will operate it as an aerodrome licensed for public use. The agreed purchase price is £750,000.
The aerodrome navigation services will continue, for at least seven years, to be provided by the National Air Traffic Control Service. The Board will retain the right to buy the airport back again should the local authorities decide at any time before the expiry of twenty-one years from the date of transfer, that they no longer wish to operate it as an aerodrome. The Board will, however, be prepared to consider waiving this right in the event of some other aerodrome becoming established as the sub-regional airport for this area. The agreed target date for the transfer of the aerodrome is 1st April, 1969.