Motorway Services

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  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
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    edited March 2017 #62

    The chances of the club lobbying about anything on behalf of its members are at best slim. It will require a different approach to bring pressure to bear. 

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited March 2017 #63

    Today I stopped at Michael Wood Services M5 Southbound it was only 11 am but it always encourages me when caravans are directed with the cars and the lorries elsewhere.  It was empty but I parked in the overspill caravan area which was larger than most ordininary areas.  Only snag would have been a longish walk to the facilities but I could have got nearer had I not got what I wanted on board.  

  • lesbunny
    lesbunny Forum Participant Posts: 133
    edited March 2017 #64

    This old chestnut will run & run but don't expect the CMC to do anything or the motorway operators to either. Most have stopped employing "traffic wardens" in favour of ANPR cameras subcontracted to firms like parking eye who rake in a fortune should anyone stop longer than 2 hrs without paying. The upside of this is that we use the pay by phone app & no longer pay the extortionate HGV rate. At Tamworth services I once enquired as to where the caravan parking was to be told " you can park where you like as long as you pay "

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #65

    Just as an aside, if you are travelling south on the M5 soon Sedgemoor Services (south of Bristol) still don't have fuel. I'm on the M5 this weekend so will see if this has changed but there's been no fuel for months with ongoing building work in the fuel area.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2017 #66

    I checked Sedgemoor Services today, still no sign of fuel. The next services south are Bridgwater which are probably the worst ones in the area and require a detour off the M5. 

  • Graymee
    Graymee Forum Participant Posts: 84
    edited April 2017 #67

    I had the misfortune to use Scotch Corner Services recently. On the way north we stopped for something to eat. They only seemed to signpost caravan spaces at the entrance but once you drive in the signage disappears. I ended up parking in the coach park, there doesn't seem to be HGV parking, luckily it was empty and I managed to park without having to reverse into a coach bay. I later discovered that the 3 caravan spaces are in the car park and only signposted on the floor 50 yards into the carpark. On the way south I entered the rather tight to access car park and headed to the caravan spaces only to find they were too small for my Skoda Superb and Bailey Pageant Elegance. Had the services been busy and the spaces opposite been in use I would probably have struggled to get out of the parking bay too.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #68

    Here's a survey I spotted on the BBC web site today, the best and worst of the services. I think I'd put Gloucester services at the top but I don't know them all.

    see here

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,644 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #69

    Have just been listening to BBC Radio 2 and there are a number of listeners phoning in saying just that. Gloucester as favourite and Tebay is also popular.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited October 2017 #70

    Gloucester is the nearest 'we' have to the proper motorway service areas in France, which must leave our providers in total embarrassment.

    yes, i know they have 'more room over there' but this doesnt excuse the poor (read pathetic) design of some of our efforts.....

    just another reason i wouldnt have a caravan...at least we can park our van in most car parks....a large towcar and long caravan is a bit different...

    yes, we (well caravanners anyway) need a champion in this area, i cant believe the clubs arent huge lobbyists over this issue.....

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,864 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #71

    I was a bit surprised that Rownhams service on the A27 get such a poor rating as from a caravan/motorhome point of view there is usually plenty of room to park which is often not the case with a lot of service stations. Although the survey had quite a large sample I imagine that those of us that enjoy our hobby were probably in the minority in terms of giving answers. I was equally surprised that Gloucester didn't come top perhaps again because not enough of us were asked. I suppose the one thing about Gloucester is that it's not run by one of the big companies?

    David

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited October 2017 #72

    Perhaps there's space as no-one wants two stop there.

  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
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    edited October 2017 #73

    We use two Service Stations when going to and from Eurotunnel.

    We stop at Toddington southbound on the way down the M1, for a drink and change drivers over, and park among the HGV with no problems. The stench of urine on the car park means we stay for as little time as possible.

    Then we stop at Maidstone to change drivers again. The bays are often filled with cars and the width of the bay means its virtually impossible to open the MH habitation door without damaging it or the vehicle parked alongside.

    On the return journey from Eurotunnel we again stop at Maidstone for a few minutes to change drivers and allow the dog a short walk.

    The stop at Toddington north bound in the 'Caravans Only' section, to swap drivers again, is rarely trouble free due to lack of space and non-Caravan/Motorhome vehicles filling many of the few spaces available.

    The Motorway service areas we use are not fit for purpose for the amount of traffic on the roads today and extra Service Areas, whether full services or 'Aire' type stops, should be put in place to alleviate the congestion and overcrowding.

    The Services on our Motorways are overpriced cash cows for the operators and places best avoided, if possible, for the rest of us.

    Have a look at the Aires in France, posted on my Youtube channel -  www.youtube.com/user/keithchesterfield - and see the difference between our sad Motorway stopovers and the French equivalent.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #74

    We have our own method of selection... which ones have an M&S shop, which have a Waitrose, and which don't have either.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #75

    I have not stopped in a motorway services for the last 7 years I think (other than for fuel). Had very little problems with the ones that I used and mainly parked amongst HGVs. If I wanted to change over drivers I think I would do it whilst refuelling.

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
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    edited October 2017 #76

    We rarely stop at motorway services, but if we do we never leave the van as we have all we need on-board.

  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
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    edited October 2017 #77

    EasyT - we change over at the Service Stations because the distance is from home to Eurotunnel is 230 miles with 99.9% Motorway driving (MI, M25, M20).

    A stop for a drink and change driver at about 110 miles and again another 100 miles further on seems reasonable to us.

    And as for refuelling at a Motorway Service Station - no way at the price they charge - first stop for fuel is the cheaper option of France.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2017 #78

    We use motorway services frequently. Mostly for a rest break. I was surprised at the survey results but it probably doesn't include many leisure vehicle users. Maybe we should post photos of what we find, good or bad when we try to park up.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #79

    If I need to refuel on a trip I choose motorway as access usually good with caravan on tow. Probably only happens once a year so cost is not a big factor on half a tank of fuel. 

    I try to keep mostly to maximum of 3 hours drive as if driving much more than 1 and 3/4 hours I take pain killers before the off. After 3 hours they start to wear off. 

    I am afraid that my days of 5 hour drives ave gone. After 200 miles of motorway OH would be a nervous wreck as she hates being on motorways. laughing

     

     

  • Richard12
    Richard12 Forum Participant Posts: 112
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    edited October 2017 #80

    We used Corley northbound on the M6 this summer, pulled into the dedicated caravan parking to find it was full of cars & vans. Took some photos and emailed them to the services but heard nothing. I tried to upload them onto this site but no success had to give up.

     

  • Graydjames
    Graydjames Forum Participant Posts: 440 ✭✭✭
    edited October 2017 #81

    Corley is not far from where I store my van and on three occasions I have wanted to stop there for a quick break on my way home from a trip. Always I have failed because there was absolutely nowhere to leave the motorhome (this was going southbound). It is always very heavily congested and badly needs some improvements.  

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited October 2017 #82

    I've seen police cars in the caravan spaces before now.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited October 2017 #83

    Agree that most motorway services in this country are poorly equipped for caravans and there is no discipline about who parks where. Fortunately our fairly compact Motorhome is easier to park (but there are rarely signs for Motorhomes, only lorries, caravans and cars).

    Whilst it is true that France is better equipped (although you are paying tolls for it), the French are even worse at parking in the wrong place. I guarantee that if it very hot there WILL be a lorry or car in the Caravan space if there is shade there. The lorry area is often a good option but the smell of urine can be very strong. You would think that strolling to the toilets would give them a bit of exercise? I always try and use the services facilities rather than our own because I welcome the walk.

    Spare a thought for Switzerland where every services is small. Lorries park on the slip roads and vehicles crammed into every available space. Mind you, I have seen the same in France in busy areas at lunch time.

  • Solobay
    Solobay Forum Participant Posts: 156
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    edited October 2017 #84

    This year on a trip to Dartmoor we pulled in for Diesel and followed the signs for caravan parking - passed the lovely new facilities, the lovely car park, passed the huge HGV park and into a rough cratered dust filled field for caravan - best thing was it was passed the entrance for fuel and the only way in was to go back against the traffic!!!