a previous consultant to the CAA, Mr Tony Broderick (the ex-FAA Flight Standards Deputy Associate Administrator and head of the Regulation and Certification Complex) had made it absolutely clear that Class C could not be operated safely without an approach radar facility.
And for decades before, we safely operated non-radar Class C (actually "CTA") over vast enroute nd terminal areas. Just because some yank who hasn't been outside his own backyard thinks something doesn't make it true.
As always, it's about money. A radar approach service at towered airports costs. Stop making AsA "make" money for it's owners and we might get a better service.