6Z3 - OK then, 'nasty little habit' rather than custom or tradition!
If it really would cost a fortune to refurbish Sunny Scampton (and what an arse decision it was to put the place on so-called care and maintenance and let it rot so badly), then why not indeed KEEP COLTISHALL OPEN.
It even has an illustrious history in the radar defence of the UK as well as being the last RAF aerodrome left which was operational in the Battle of Britain.
Or is it just that the MoD beancounters are salivating in frenzy at the thought of the money they think they could get for the place if they flogged it off to some Naarfaalk house builder?