There isn't an airfield I've been based at that hasn't had problems, my first lessons were at Ringway, then I flew at Chester, then Barton, then Luton, Fairoaks, Lee-on Solent and now Redhill.
I don't think private flying is on it's deathbed at all, it just has ebbs and flows and lots of issues and it's expensive. If the government could be persuaded to give up the paltry amount of overall tax it takes from 100 LL we could all be flying a lot more and the whole industry saved. Grant Shapps .. how about it ?