Nearest rest area in my location11/2/2023 ![]() ![]() Strictly speaking, the small service area at Todhills should have closed, as it had limited facilities and there were existing alternatives nearby. In 2008 the A74 at Todhills was being upgraded to become a motorway. The two petrol stations are the main facility at Todhills rest area. This is very similar to the motorway examples given above, and more were considered for A-roads in the 1970s, but these are just picnic areas and not what is meant by a "rest area" in the current regulations. These are supposed to be treated as tourist attractions and called a "picnic area", but one on the A120 is signed as a "rest area". On the A-road network, there are a handful of designated "picnic areas", which may have toilets and a refreshments kiosk. Problems planning the services caused the road to open with 'emergency facilities' temporary facilities provided at junctions, taken away when the full services were ready. The final motorway example dates back to the opening of the M40. This lasted until 1998, when a commercial operator expanded it. Although it was known as Brent Knoll rest area, the road signs made it clear it was a "picnic area".Īt Hapsford, no developer was interested in the site so in 1978 it opened as a council-run picnic area. The whole experience was later summarised as "unfavourable". Maintenance problems and commercial demand caused it to be sold to different operators. Newland Common was going to be the first candidate, but Brent Knoll was built instead. In 1973, one government parliamentary secretary was impressed by French motorway picnic areas, and suggested the UK did the same. In the event, none of these ideas were taken forward. ![]() Similar arguments had been made for the M50 through Worcestershire, although that was before motorway services had been finalised as a concept. They also looked at building car parks at every motorway junction. The Ministry of Transport preferred the idea of building services every 12 miles, not wanting the motorway network to be filled with leisure drivers. In 1965, when the M6 was built through Cumberland and Westmorland, the local authorities suggested motorists might like to take advantage of the good views here by using parking areas provided every six miles. A sign for Hapsford picnic area on the M56, in the 1990s.
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