Tuesday, 26 Nov 2024

Map reveals Britain's five worst motorway services

Drivers have voted for what they consider to be the country’s worst motorway services.

Hartshead Moor East, on the M62 near Huddersfield, in West Yorkshire, is the least popular out of 119 services in Britain.

Some 31,000 visitors were surveyed by watchdog Transport Focus and the Welcome Break-owned site received an overall satisfaction rating of just 80%.

Comparatively, the top five services in Britain had satisfaction ratings between 99% and 100%.

At Hartshead Moor East, only three out of four (75%) visitors were satisfied with the toilets.

The services is on the busiest route across the Pennines from Lancashire to Yorkshire.

This includes the UK’s highest motorway section, when the M62 reaches 1,221ft (372m) near Denshaw, Greater Manchester.


Hartshead Moor also has a section for westbound traffic, which received a score of 87%.

The services which recieved the worst ratings after this were:

  • Lancaster South (M6): 83%
  • Charnock Richard South (M6): 83%
  • Birchanger Green (M11): 83%
  • Warwick South (M40): 84%

Conversely, the Moto’s Rugby services, on the M6 in Warwickshire, was the only location to score 100%.

The average satisfaction score given by all users of services was 93%, including 61% who said they were very satisfied.

Just 3% said they were very or fairly dissatisfied.

Value for money of refreshments was a key area of concern, with only 63% of respondents describing it as fairly or very good.

Some 88% of visitors were satisfied with the toilets.

Meanwhile, 31% said they felt tired, stressed or frustrated when they arrived at a services, but just 7% had those feelings when they left.

AA president Edmund King said the high-quality provision of electric vehicle chargers at Rugby is ‘the sort of facilities all motorway service areas should have’.

He added: ‘In terms of road safety, it is essential that drivers take a break at least every two-and-a-half hours, so it is vital that attractive service areas with all the facilities encourage drivers to stop.’

Transport Focus chief executive Anthony Smith said: ‘As many people gear up for a half-term getaway, motorway services provide a great place to stop and take a break.

‘Many of us, when we think services, think about stopping for a toilet break – it’s reassuring to see that these are consistently highly rated.

‘Our survey shows motorway service operators deliver good overall customer experience and facilities, but visitors don’t always feel they get value for money.

‘Services continue to do a good job of their most important safety function – allowing drivers to rest and relax before getting back on the road.’

Metro.co.uk has contacted Transport Focus for comment.

The best motorway services in Britain after Rugby:

  • Donington Park (M1): 99%
  • Blackburn with Darwen (M65): 99%
  • Strensham North (M5): 99%
  • Medway East (M2): 99%

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