As I'm based at Rush Green, I use Luton Approach every time I fly. I find it is VERY sensitive to temperature and aircraft position when at low level (typically 1,000' on the LTN QNH) after take off. On a hot humid day, I can only receive them when flying N-S whereas on a cold, crisp day they are usually crystal clear. Once I'm cleared to 1,500' I can receive and transmit OK. This was never an issue when Approach was actually at Luton.
I was orbitting Hatfield one murky day with the cloud base keeping me below 1,500' and I had to resort to calling Luton Radar as I couldn't raise Approach. The chaps there were VERY helpful and got my Zone entry clearance sorted PDQ.
As you can guess, I regard the move to West Drayton as a retrograde step