So if you are say operating a C172 on an AOC doing pleasure flights or photography, then you can only operate from licences airfields? During their notified opening hours, when ATC and RFFS are available?
As I understand it (but check with CAA) this is correct.
Another reason why going unlicenced can be a shortsighted option.
In the end it all comes down to money, operating a licenced field is expensive and the owner needs to attract enough commercial operations income to justify the cost.
In the case of Perranporth the field has been for sale for a long time and it is being operated by the local flying club faced with the possibility of a sale to developers at any time.
The airfield is in danger and nobody is going to spend money until the situation is resolved.
The complication is that large parts of the field are a scheduled monument and English Heritage are involved in any potential changes. Scheduled Monument status is the big daddy of protection.
The only surviving WW2 fighter dispersal pens are protected to the same
level as Stonehenge or St Pauls.