Service Area
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Service Areas or Services as they are often referred to, are generally purpose built stopping points providing motorists with a range of facilities that they may require during their journey, such as fuel. The term is most commonly associated with Motorway Service Areas, but similar facilities are increasingly found across the Trunk Road Network and indeed on the edges of our towns and cities. The provision of facilities at Motorway Service Areas is quite strictly controlled, although rules have relaxed somewhat over the years, while those off the motorway network are generally subject only to the local planning authorities whims and expectations.
Location
As the motorway network developed, sites were allocated for service areas to be built to serve the travelling public. Before the motorways, most of our main roads passed through so many towns and villages that opportunities to stop for fuel, food or other facilities were frequent on most journeys, this was not the case on the new Motorways. Initially, service areas were provided between junctions, and in most cases with separate facilities for each carriageway. In some circumstances, such as on the M6 in Lancashire, pedestrian bridges connected the two service areas, and at locations which were anticipated to be quieter, or where maybe suitable land was not available, a single site was built, connected to the far carriageway by a road bridge. Before long, however, private operators started to develop existing sites that were at or close to motorway junctions and promoting them as motorway services, and there are now many such sites.
On the Trunk Road Network, service areas have been less closely controlled, and many have developed from pre-existing businesses either diversifying, or being sold to a Motorway Service Area operator. Some of these sites are considered to be insufficient to be signed as Service Areas, but are commonly referred to as such, while others are as large and impressive as those on the motorways. The majority are sited on busy routes, or at busy junctions, but in recent years smaller sites have been located on bypasses and ring roads, where a filling station, hotel and fast food restaurant are all that is really provided.
Facilities
Typically, most service areas will include the following
- Fuel sales, and in recent years electric car charging points
- A convenience store selling snacks and other essentials
- Toilets
In addition, to qualify as a service area rather than just a filling station, at least one of the following:
- Cafe or restaurant offering eat-in catering
- Fast food takeaway outlet
- Hotel
- Additional shops offering a variety of goods
- Amusements / Kids play area - normally only at Motorway sites
- Picnic area / Dog walking area
List of Services
Services by region