Motorway services

[Craigyoung]

When parked up I always have a good nose at other people's unit , my plates stick out like a sore thumb so anybody could recognise me !

 

[Gagakev]

I would personally like to thank Gloucester Services South Bound for saving me a fortune in recent times!!!
Stopped there for a coffee and sandwich for two..........................£18.00 in fact think it was nearer £19.00!!!!!

We now take our own nibbles and occasionally may buy a fresh coffee.

 

[otherclive]

Crikey £19 for one coffee and one sandwich. That’s the ultimate sharing dish

 

[Gabsgrandad]

Kev, quote -- ".£18.00 in fact think it was nearer £19.00!!!!!" - Was that before or after ordering? -- Bet it tasted exceptional! - Best cuppa you've ever had? - Free crockery included?
Only thing we use on services sites are the car/caravan parks, (full facilities in van) - we're even sometimes 'naughty' and put the kettle on! - Mashing up underneath the sign no cookers, seems to make the brew taste much better!

 

[Raywood]

I would personally like to thank Gloucester Services South Bound for saving me a fortune in recent times!!!
Stopped there for a coffee and sandwich for two..........................£18.00 in fact think it was nearer £19.00!!!!!

We now take our own nibbles and occasionally may buy a fresh coffee.

It is just because we take out own nibbles and, in our case a flask of tea, that the services are not interested in us. Having said that with their quality (or lack of it) and prices I am not interested in eating there either.

 

[Gagakev]

Crikey £19 for one coffee and one sandwich. That’s the ultimate sharing dish

Sorry Clive should have made it clearer that was for two of each..........still extortionate

 

[Gagakev]

Kev, quote -- ".£18.00 in fact think it was nearer £19.00!!!!!" - Was that before or after ordering? -- Bet it tasted exceptional! - Best cuppa you've ever had? - Free crockery included?
Only thing we use on services sites are the car/caravan parks, (full facilities in van) - we're even sometimes 'naughty' and put the kettle on! - Mashing up underneath the sign no cookers, seems to make the brew taste much better!

Sent Mags to purchase as I always stay with the van and when she came back with that news I was not amused.

Oh and that was the cheapest she could find, mine was cheese and pickle.

 

[SteveW77]

As most caravaners & motorhome drivers spend absolutely nothing in motorway service areas, why do they expect service areas to provide parking and toilet facilities for them?

 

[Craigyoung]

When we were on our way back from dover the other year we paid £4o for 4 meals with drinks at KFC at a services !

 

[otherclive]

As most caravaners & motorhome drivers spend absolutely nothing in motorway service areas, why do they expect service areas to provide parking and toilet facilities for them?

Because for safety reasons it’s deemed advisable to have a break every so often. If UK provided more simplified rest areas like they do abroad then it wouldn’t be necessary to provide food, clothes, flowers, phones etc as do our temples of rampant consumerism

 

[SteveW77]

As most caravaners & motorhome drivers spend absolutely nothing in motorway service areas, why do they expect service areas to provide parking and toilet facilities for them?

Because for safety reasons it’s deemed advisable to have a break every so often. If UK provided more simplified rest areas like they do abroad then it wouldn’t be necessary to provide food, clothes, flowers, phones etc as do our temples of rampant consumerism

But, are we all prepared to pay more taxes to provide these resting places. I think the answer would be a resounding no from the non caravanning drivers as they have no problems with the standard service area.

 

[otherclive]

As most caravaners & motorhome drivers spend absolutely nothing in motorway service areas, why do they expect service areas to provide parking and toilet facilities for them?

Because for safety reasons it’s deemed advisable to have a break every so often. If UK provided more simplified rest areas like they do abroad then it wouldn’t be necessary to provide food, clothes, flowers, phones etc as do our temples of rampant consumerism

But, are we all prepared to pay more taxes to provide these resting places. I think the answer would be a resounding no from the non caravanning drivers as they have no problems with the standard service area.

They should have been provided as part of the motorway infrastructure. Who says non caravanners don’t have a problem with the extortionate prices and poor quality of so many service areas. The recent review wasn’t for caravans and motor homes. Even when driving without the van I’ve never used them for anything other than the bare minimum needs. I take my own snacks and drinks on a journey most times. Off motorways I use supermarket cafes or just buy off the shelf.

 

[Jaydug]

But, are we all prepared to pay more taxes to provide these resting places. .

Should we have to? The motoring public paid 30.5 billion pounds last year in fuel duty and VED.

 

[Raywood]

As most caravaners & motorhome drivers spend absolutely nothing in motorway service areas, why do they expect service areas to provide parking and toilet facilities for them?

I think that is part of the problem. However if they provided good food at sensible prices then more of us would use them.

 

[Craigyoung]

But, are we all prepared to pay more taxes to provide these resting places. .

Should we have to? The motoring public paid 30.5 billion pounds last year in fuel duty and VED.

That's a lot of money and yet the roads are still crap and full of potholes which don't get fixed !!

 

[SteveW77]

Any politician will tell you that tax revenues cannot be ring fenced to be used on a specific service. £30.5 billion covers the cost of the NHS for 4 months, perhaps the average citizen would prefer the money raised by motoring taxes went to provide things like the NHS or day centres for the elderly, libraries or even better public transport.

 

[Raywood]

I suppose that if you asked us if we wanted more service areas or less potholes then we would all go for less potholes.

 

[SteveW77]

I suppose that if you asked us if we wanted more service areas or less potholes then we would all go for less potholes.

I certainly would.

 

[otherclive]

Any politician will tell you that tax revenues cannot be ring fenced to be used on a specific service. £30.5 billion covers the cost of the NHS for 4 months, perhaps the average citizen would prefer the money raised by motoring taxes went to provide things like the NHS or day centres for the elderly, libraries or even better public transport.

As the fifth largest economy in the world, or sixth depending on the sterling exchange rate why are we so always short of cash? A recent survey showed that a majority of those surveyed would support a penny in Income Tax for improved health and aged care, but only if it was ring fenced and sued for that purpose. The Consolidated Fund does allow ring fencing, but it is our politicians that will not use it as such.

 

[Dodger524]

Possible because it is the law that they have to.

 

[Dodger524]

As most caravaners & motorhome drivers spend absolutely nothing in motorway service areas, why do they expect service areas to provide parking and toilet facilities for them?

Possibly because it is the law that they have to.

 

[Craigyoung]

I think that services will be busy and cater more with people in cars and coach parties where us when we pull up with the caravan we normally just jump in the van and have a bite to eat, all we use the services for is the toilets , and possibly the odd fresh coffee even though I hate spending that money !!

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

As most caravaners & motorhome drivers spend absolutely nothing in motorway service areas, why do they expect service areas to provide parking and toilet facilities for them?

Possibly because it is the law that they have to.

Correct. For safety reasons all mway services have to provide a rest space for ALL drivers.

 

[waffler]

Apart from parking problems there is the cost. However Caravan Club members can get 20% off at road chef, print off voucher on CC web site and show membership card. AA members get 20% off at Moto areas, just show card. (These discounts don't work at McDonald's and I think it is 10% at M and S food.)

 

[Dustydog]

As most caravaners & motorhome drivers spend absolutely nothing in motorway service areas, why do they expect service areas to provide parking and toilet facilities for them?

Possibly because it is the law that they have to.

Correct. For safety reasons all mway services have to provide a rest space for ALL drivers.

It is worth noting most services are owned by HMG then leased to a franchisee who run them for profit. Unless absolutely desperate why lay their extortionate fuel prices.
The privately owned ones like Westmoreland are clearly more reasonable on pricing ad value for money