Hi Lew,
Just got back from a weekend away... hence the delay in answering.
You assumed correctly... I was trying to tackle 2 queries with 1 answer, not wise, especially on this forum where there are a lot of knowledgeable people around.
LARS... the point I was trying to cover was that it probably really exists so that you guys know who or what those radar traces near to your traffic are, even if they are in open airspace.
Withdrawing the service is surely a backward step regarding safety.
You are correct in that it is not a corridor but to my guilt I used to plan that way and gave you a call 10 mins away.
This was definitely a mistake because out of Elstree I used to plan for Hemel without realising that I was directly under your climb out and intended to orbit there if I couldn't get a call in!
Won't plan for that again if 26 is in use.
Checked my log book and it is over 2 years since I transitted your airspace... I'd bet it's a lot busier now!
Thanks for the input, I for one have learned something.