Difficult to imagine Bae Systems retaining the airfield for GA. particularly at a time when there is such a general downturn in the economy.
I guess that Niknak has a Farnborough scenario in mind, however there is just not the number of corporate operations in the north west and MAN appears to have it pretty well stitched up.
If it does close, it will be a sad end to an important chapter of British Military and Civil Aviation.
Helen