I have a split top English ("sellers") bench with the tray between the tops. 

I love the tray. Why?

I'm an anal retentive neatnik and I need to do a rough clean up every
hour.....don't like shuffling around in piles of shavings, and having 30 tools
out.

The tools are in the tray only for short periods, like when I'm adjusting
withholding etc. Usually they sit on the other bench top beyond the tray, safe
from the limitations of my coordination.

Mine is more of a "shavings and sawdust tray".

It has a full width flue between the tops, with a Rubbermaid container under the
bench.

Beyond the flue is a ramp (German style) for shoveling shavings out. So I shove
shavings into the tray rather than onto the floor. And depending on waste type
and volume I can clear the bench in a second. Dust works better down the flue,
shavings, especially scrub shavings, go out the ramp....

MPf.