Sorry Sir George, I can't throw any light on this. For those not familiar with our region, it's worth pointing out that if Barton did go, there would be NO airfield for GA between Sleap to the south, Liverpool to the West, and Blackpool to the north. Greater Manchester, probably the second largest UK connurbation after London, together with a large part of Cheshire and Lancashire, would have no GA facilities at all.
That's a sad reflection on the value this country puts on GA.
SSD