In the "good times" much passes without too much scrutiny by most except those "concocting the deals".
When the bad times arrive & in the case of COVID a veritable calamity the horlicks of entanglement starts to becomes more & more evident in these airport sites owned by Council but leased out to take them off their hands & books for a Century or so with oh so many promises.(LTN & SEN spring to mind.)
Roosting chickens is a scenario.Sure that Southend Corporation is poring long & hard over what they themselves are signed up for.