Have your say on Motorway Service Areas
Comments
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In light of the current thread about Gloucester service station parking bays, I remembered that we are still awaiting, thankfully without bated breath, for the results of this survey.
Can Rowenna just confirm to us that we shouldn't bother ourselves asking about it anymore as we're not to be kept informed. Will save time wondering.
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Fair comment re this survey David, but Rowena doesn't seem to reply to any questions as MollysM says, yet she continues to assume that we are happy to answer her questions. That's a bit one-way and isn't helpful. It begs the question, does Rowena actually exist or is 'she' automated?
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But then as CT is only part of her job description then it depends what her main post entails and where in the "pecking order"CT comes,and how often she gets answers from other organizations or depts who as is most positions these days have multiple other parts to their jobs
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I am sure Rowena will update us when she has the information. This thread was only started two and a half months ago. I am not sure how long the survey was live for but would guess three or four weeks. Once the data has been collected it will need analysing which could take several weeks depending on the requested urgency. When the information has been gathered and sorted into the various categories it is likely that further information may need to be sought before the originators of the survey are happy to share the results so ten weeks might be a bit early to expect those results.I am sure the Club will share that information and I am sure Rowena will inform us when we are at that point.
David
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Should have gone to Spec savers!!!
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Ref the Gloucs Services thread, which I can't find but was to do with lack of space. With a touch of anorakitis I took these photos around 1pm today, Sunday 23/6. Gloucs S services was packed with visitors. There is a new caravan notice directing vans to the lorry area (avoid it) because a little further on to the left the old area is still available. Whilst we could see many caravanners manoeuvring amongst the lorries this is what we found in the original area!
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(EDIT - Forgot to quote Brue's last post. Oops.)
So it seems that rather enforcing the restricted parking regulations, and make non caravan/mh parkers like white van man move to their own spaces, the management have decided to redirect the caravans away from the designated area. Brilliant. No wonder we shake our heads. I don't mind them putting up an overflow sign but...
What they need is a few ex wardens to enforce the existing rules.
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Hi everyone,
Just to let you know we haven't yet had the results back yet from Highways England. The next meeting of the National Towing Working Group is in September so we hope to have some feedback to share with you then.
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Update: The latest information on this survey is that, unfortunately, the National Towing Working Group has not met since the onset of the pandemic, so the Club has, as yet, been unable to get the result of the motorway survey. It is anticipate that things will normalise as things get better and the Club will raise the issue as a reminder when the National Towing Working Group eventually meet.
It remains a serious issue, and people still ask me about this. Apart from comments made to me directly, there was a Facebook discussion recently about the motorway service station parking problems, and another by a person asking about which service stations to avoid when towing a caravan.
It is still on the Club's list to follow up..... and mine too. I will continue to follow this up.
David
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This is what the caravan parking area looked like at Donnington Services a few days ago.
peeddee
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Did you send that photo to the services provider, asking for an explanation as to why those trailers were parked up, and I guess blocking, the caravan parking area?
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No I parked in the coach area and waited for someone to come and tell me I couldn't! Even if I had thought of complaining to the owners I had no idea whose service area it was and still don't. The HGV area was full which was another reason I ended up in the coach area.. We had lunch and a coffee and left. One of the reasons for taking the photo was to use if I subsequently received a fine due to being spotted by ANPR cameras parked in an area where I shouldn't.
peedee
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The whole thing is a bit of a nightmare, to be honest - the Highways Agency do not appear to be taking notice and at least don't appear to be talking to service station owners At Stenshem Services on Saturday it just appeared to be a free for all... even single cars parked in caravan spaces and cars travelling the 'wrong way' (i.e. entering the caravan parking area via the exit etc). I didn't spot any member of staff, let alone anyone trying to make sense of it all.
Apart from the inconvenience, what worries me more is the danger of drivers needing to pull over because they are tired and need a break, or even folk who are desperate for a toilet stop. The least it needs are members of staff controlling and making sense of it all. I just think the only thing service stations are interested in is taking the cash! This is why we really need an effective Highways Agency who can, at the very least, negotiate a plan with service stations...... and we still no word of the result of the survey in 2018....
David
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Having done a UK tour this year, July/August, we had first hand, and recent experience.
The ability to be able to stop in a 'caravan space' is a lottery and often impossible. We pulled in to Tebay-one space all others occupied by HGVs and cars.
Scotch Corner-directed to coach parking area but only if you said you were buying food.
Hopwood Sevices on M42-one space only and made difficult by a MH with trailer parked at an angle. As we got back to the car an AA recovery driver asked my wife if we were leaving-she said "yes, but this is the caravan area".
His reply was that they always use it and as we left he pulled in.
I would say though that the we have traveled in Europe and found, especially at weekends, that it was impossible to park at any autoroute service areas
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