Aha! I have just spotted this topic!
What everyone has said about my car is correct.
I use a bodyshop in Maidenhead, Berkshire who use a technique called wet-priming. They are the VW Maidenhead approved bodyshop.
My skirts would simply not come off, the adhesive was on too strongly, and the bodyshop was afraid that they may cause other damage to the car through trying to rip them off! So we kept them on - but at the premise that flaking may occur around the edges...which unfortunately it has done. But celavie! That is no reflection on the skills of the bodyshop - who on the other bumpers did an excellent job. Colour match was spot on, and there is no hint of the original texturized surface at all.
From memory...rear was 300, front & sides done at once cost 250. Didn't think it was too bad.