I fail to see what Manston has to offer an operator, apart from short taxi times. Why would the passenger travel over there when Gatwick is so near. The population of Kent surely wouldn't use it that much. Cargo...perfect for late departures with little agro to natives, who are either drunk and fighting or deaf and in front of the T.V.
I agree it needs to be used. We cannot let these great RAF runways go to hardcore and re-development, especially one with so much history.