Use of metal track on civil airfields

Marsden Matting is the original name for PSP

mawganmad wrote:

Blimey seems odd to use any of these systems at a fairly major airport operating large passenger aircraft type in the 1950s. It was renowned pre-war, especially for its modern terminal and underground links, seems post-war things were slow to get going again.

At this stage Gatwick was very much in its wartime state, according to the oblique aerial view that accompanied the article. Until it reopened as a major airport in 1958 it seemed to be a minor airport.
Still it does seem odd to use a temporary surface.
Another explanation could be that Flight used information avaialable at the time and maybe that had not been changed since 1945.

Was steel matting (of whatever type) removed from vacated RAF airfields post-war or was it left in situ for the new owners to remove? I know the various ALG's were cleared, in most cases, very quickly after they were derequistioned.

Peter

Gatwick had two Army Track runways laid in September 1941 when the Army Co-operation Squadrons moved in. These runways were still present when the airfield transferred to Ministry of Civil Aviation ownership in 1946. From 1946 to 1956 Gatwick was a fairly minor airport, with a few charter airlines plus Airwork in residence on various aircraft modification programmes.

The airfield was closed from September 1956 in order for a 7,000 ft runway to be constructed, along with a new terminal etc., re-opening on 9 July 1958.

The question is, what other post-war airports only had grass or track runways? Lympne springs to mind. Any others?