Criticism for M-way stops
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by Derren Hayes • Drivers want better, cheaper and more frequent motorway service station facilities, a CM opinion poll has revealed.
Almost every driver asked said current facility standards at service stations were poor and overpriced, leaving most drivers feeling they were not properly catered for.
Food, security, shower and entertainment facilities all came in for particular criticism.
"They could do a lot more for the LGV driver, especially with overnight parking," says Pourshins driver John Gillie. "It could be a lot better but we don't care about LGV drivers the way they do abroad," says owner driver Dave Fox.
Rotterdatn-based interna tional driver Leo Johannes says Holland's services and roads are better than the UK's: "I love coming to the UK and facilities are getting better but they are still not very good," he says.
He adds: "Holland is a small country but there are plenty of places along the highways to stop and have wash and shoi facilities."
Bruce Carey, a driver Worcester Heat Syst( for the past 12 yet thinks the slip-roads oil motorways from set.% stations are also poor.
"When you are tryitu get from the slip road the first lane it can be N dangerous. You hav( give way to cars and t don't realise you nee( get your speed up wl you are fully loaded," s Carey.
The "How's my drivir campaign, that invi motorists to phonE national telephone hill comment on a drivers' formance (See Sound pg49), was welcomed most drivers, but some it could be open to abus "It's a load of cobble says BRS driver Br Goodall: "It shows I firms don't trust their vers and I would refus have them on my vehicl Silcock Express dri Tony Smith says: "It vides an opening for pe to phone up and bar, gripe over trivial alit I've been driving for years—how does a driver know how judge me?"
Bulmers Brewery dr Haydon Davis wouli mind taking part in scheme but says: "I f enough stickers on trailer already—there'! room for anything else.'
• Drivers will have to pay more for overnight parking Granada service stations following a decision by the firm • scrap meal vouchers. The new policy will be phased in over the next few montl at Granada's 39 stores. It means drivers will now pay £7 night but meal vouchers will no longer be included in tf price.
First to be affected are seven former Pavilion and four fc mer Welcome Break stores that Granada took over last year
Pavilion stations used to offer a £7.25 package that inclui ed a £2.25 meal voucher, while the 28 original Granac stores cost £10 and included a £6 meal voucher.
Granada says the new system is being introduced becau they had too many problems with vouchers.