Shed, you seem quite knowledgeable on ATC issues so do you know why MAN often has such huge gaps between approaches when in LVPs? We've just lost a RYR by the looks of it because of the delays and there only appeared to be 4 or 5 a/c on approach or in the hold.
I was watching the situation at LGW yesterday when even in LVPs with departures on their single runway to get away, there were often 4 a/c on approach and the gaps looked shorter than often occurs at MAN. Here we often see 2 a/c on approach including one on short finals, and perhaps a 3rd just coming out of a hold.
I realise that LVPs means single runway ops at MAN and that there may be a backlog of departures to get away (to free stands?) and that the mix of traffic can affect spacing, but is priority given to arrivals to try and avoid a/c having to divert in that situation?