To me at least, all this talk of Manston reactivating highlights the disparity which exists with the transport systems in this country. On the one hand, there are (apparently) moves afoot to put the airfield back into operation, (albeit generally for cargo as I understand it), whilst a perfectly well-equipped airport in the north of the country is closing down. The south-east is already overcrowded in every sense, housing, transport, both surface and air, and the M25 is just a permanent nightmare.
What this country has lacked for generations is a grown-up transport policy which is beneficial to the whole country. Yes, 10+ million people live in the Greater London area, but the remaining 57 million or so live outside it, yet here is further talk of cargo being brought into a distribution point which is far removed from most of the population centres.