I have found this to be a very interesting debate, particularly the contributions from the ATC guys it is good to see things from your perspective.
To clear a couple of points. I did have an off air chat with ATC. It is the substance of that conversation that I reflected in my initial question. I also do not have a particular problem with booking an approach if that is what is required.
I think there are two issues however. The first is that there seems to be an increasing trend to complicate life unnecessarily. I would never ask for an approach (for currency purpose) if things appeared busy or several other aircraft were in the hold. However when it is quiet there are times when you feel, without having set of with the intention, that it would be useful to fly an approach to land. It takes 10 seconds of air time to make the request and 10 seconds for it to be refused I have no issue with that. That has previously been the procedure here and at many other airports in my view very sensible.
Secondly, I was interested for interest sake in the strict regulatory position. As I said previously it still seems to me odd to refer to yourself as offering a service when in fact strictly you are not in other words if you cannot for whatever reason accommodate any further traffic on the procedural approach say so on the ATIS and provide a tower service.
Finally and for the avoidance of any doubt, Shoreham has always provided a first class ATC service. There are a number of occasions when I have had to fly an approach to minimum; the service has unhesitatingly been there, and without pre-booking of course. I make absolutely no criticism of ATC what so ever. My comment is purely to see what views others have on any airport adopting this type of policy.