Motorway Services Online - User Contributions [en]

South Mimms

2012-07-27T15:19:59Z

Adpi: /* Trivia */

{{Services
|type = motorway
|image = SouthMimmsEntrance.jpg
|operator = Welcome Break
|road = [[M25]] at J23 [[A1(M)]] at J1 (also accessible to traffic on the A1 and the A1081)
|address = The Welcome Break Welcome Break Service Station Bignell's Corner South Mimms Potters Bar Hertfordshire
|postcode = EN6 3QQ
|telephone = 01707 646333
|signposted = As [[Starbucks]]/[[Waitrose]]
|opened = 1987
|gridref = TL230002
|stype = Single site located at a junction.
|rating = South
|website = south-mimms
|coords = 51.687408, -0.221856
|facebook = pages/South-Mimms-Services/128405307208019
|briefroad = M25 at J23 and A1(M) at J1
|markerpost = 134 }}

South Mimms is situated at the busy roundabout between the M25 and A1(M). It has supreme local access, and recent refurbishments mean it is pretty modern. They claim to offer special facilities for truckers.

{{Nav}}
==Facilities==
'''General''': [[BT WiFi]], [[Welcome Break Gaming]], [[Traffic Information]], Meeting Room, {{Children's Play Area}} 
'''Restaurants''': {{Starbucks}}, {{Burger King}}, {{Eat In}}, {{KFC}}, {{Krispy Kreme}} 
'''Shops''': {{WHSmith|krispykreme=yes|costaexpress=yes}}, {{Fone Bitz}}, {{Waitrose}} 
'''Fuel''': {{BP|electriccar=Ecotricity|adblue=Air1|costaexpress=yes}} 
'''Motel''': {{Days Inn||12568}}

==Parking Prices==
First two hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £10, which includes a £2 meal voucher. The truckstop costs £24.50 or £20 for only a limited meal voucher.

Prices can be paid in the shop and restaurant, with instructions in each car park. They are strictly enforced by [[ParkingEye]].

==Trivia==
The services were opened by Margaret Thatcher on 6th June 1987 but they had to be rebuilt in 1998 after a large fire on the 13th August caused by an unattended frying pan in [[Julie's Pantry]]. This makes them both the oldest and, until recently, the newest services on the M25. The temporary building which was used whilst the services were being re-built was then sold in an online auction.

The services' site compromises of several things, including a works unit. The only sensible route between the motorways and the village of South Mimms is to leave at the junction and drive through the services, where there is a link road to the village. This feature is pretty much exclusive to the services, and similarly they are the only service area connected to the national cycle routes.

===Location===
The services are off a busy roundabout, however its location presents an even bigger problem for the police. Over time, several illegal activities have been uncovered here, largely due to its location being where two major routes cross, one coming out of London (where South Mimms is the first service area you'd pass) and one heading towards the Channel Ports.

National Cycle Network route 12, also known as the Great North Way, runs from Hadley Wood to Hatfield via the services, and then it continues towards the North East.

===In the Public Eye===
The services were mentioned in Ian Sinclair's book '''London Orbital''', which came to the conclusion that it was dire and in need of a refurbishment, with traffic queueing to leave the site and join the main junction. A few weeks later, he said things had improved. They also starred several times in Sky's '''Brainiac: Science Abuse''' and '''EastEnders''', and Robbie Williams has sang in the car park.

Roger Green wrote a book on the services titled 'Destination Nowhere: A South Mimms Motorway Service Station Diary'.

===Development===
''Full details: [[Bignell's Corner]]''

The services are on the site of an old truckstop known as the Beacon Café. They were originally owned by BP who leased the site out to Welcome Break.

==Survey Results==
In May 2012 and August 2011, Visit England rated the services as 4 stars.

Lord Adonis (Secretary of State for Transport) wasn't impressed by the services when he visited in September 2009, as the toilets were closed throughout his visit and there was a lot of confusion.

In 2008 the services won a five star loo award.

In 2007, South Mimms won a five star loo award. In 2006 it received four stars.

==Alternatives==
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession|1|M25|''none nearby on M25'' [[Toddington]] (M1 north, 25 miles) [[Beaconsfield]] (M40 north, 28 miles) [[Reading]] (M4 west, 52 miles) [[Heston]] (M4 east, 30 miles)|
[[Thurrock]] (32 miles) [[Birchanger Green]] (M11 north, 39 miles)}}
{{Succession|1|A1(M)|''none''|
[[Baldock]] (23 miles)}}
{{Succession|2|Welcome Break|[[Oxford]] (M40 north, 50 miles)|
[[Birchanger Green]] (M11 north, 39 miles)}}</table>

[[Category:1980s]][[Category:M25]][[Category:A1(M)]][[Category:Pilot Services]][[Category:HA Approved Truckstops]]

Burtonwood

2012-07-27T14:14:06Z

Adpi:

{{Services
|type = motorway
|operator = Welcome Break
|image = Picture1.jpg‎
|road = [[M62]] at J8
|address = Welcome Break Group Ltd Burtonwood Motorway Services Area M62 Great Sankey Warrington Cheshire
|postcode = WA5 3AX
|telephone = 01925 651656
|signposted = As [[Starbucks]]/[[KFC]]
|prevop = [[Trusthouse Forte]]
|opened = 1974
|gridref = SJ576913
|stype = Single site located at a junction.
|rating = Burtonwood
|website = burtonwood
|extrawebsite = http://www.burtonwoodservices.co.nr/ Staff Reunion Site
|coords = 53.41725, -2.63792
|briefroad = M62 at J8
|facebook = pages/Burtonwood-Services/154377507920293
|markerpost = 024 }}

A shrinking service area at the end of the M62, it was recently refurbished after one of the two sides were closed.

{{Nav}}
==Facilities==
'''General''': [[BT WiFi]], [[Welcome Break Gaming]], Showers 
'''Restaurants''': {{Starbucks}}, {{KFC}}, 
'''Shops''': {{WHSmith|costaexpress=yes}} 
'''Fuel''': {{Shell|costaexpress=yes}} 
'''Motel''': none

==Parking Prices==
First two hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £8 and caravans, coaches and HGVs £17.50. These prices include a £2/£7 food voucher respectively.

Prices can be paid in the shop, with instructions in each car park. They are strictly enforced by [[ParkingEye]].

==Trivia==
[[File:Burtonwood_westbound_1.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The abandoned westbound services]]
Burtonwood has slowly, over time, become a rather neglected service area. They were badly hurt when the missing J8 was utilised to serve the upcoming '''Omega''' development which has still not commenced. As a result of the junction's position it also serves Gemini Retail Park and as a result the westbound services have now been boarded up and abandoned. Westbound traffic can access the eastbound services via the J8 roundabout (entrance) and the old emergency access road (exit back to J8). This was first proposed in 2000 when the Highways Agency built the new J8, but it didn't happen until about 2008.

Before the closure, Burtonwood had very much become a 'no-go zone' amongst truckers as it was renowned for being dodgy and dangerous. Halving the site meant that some of the facilities had to be lost, including (unusually for a Welcome Break), the lack of a [[Burger King]] and a [[Coffee Primo]]. The old westbound side has now been demolished by Marshall and is currently under development. Currently, the development (known as Gemini 8) consists of a [[Travelodge]], [[Starbucks]] and a [[Harvester]] pub/restaurant. The remaining land is expected to be utilised for commercial purposes (e.g. offices and distribution).

On the other hand, the eastbound site has been refurbished and it has joined up as a coach interchange.

The services consist (or consisted) of two small, octagonal pagoda-style buildings which are visible from the motorway. The design was supposed to make the most of the simple landscape, allowing the buildings to be clearly visible from the road. The roof would have been red, as an early way to advertise the services' branding, but planning permission was refused and instead it was copper, soon colouring to its more memorable green. The buildings are said to be haunted as they are built on the site of a disused airfield where an aircraft crashed in the '50s. Perhaps that's why they didn't do very well!

==Survey Results==
In May 2012 and August 2011, Visit England rated the services as 2 stars, making it one of the worst-performing.

In 2008 the services won a five star loo award.

==Alternatives==
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession|1|M62|''none''|
[[Birch]] (20 miles) [[Lymm]] (M6 south, 10 miles) [[Knutsford]] (M6 south, 15 miles) [[Charnock Richard]] (M6 north, 20 miles)}}
{{Succession|2|Welcome Break|''none''|
[[Hartshead Moor]] (44 miles) [[Charnock Richard]] (M6 north, 20 miles)}}</table>

[[Category:1970s]][[Category:M62]]

File:Burtonwood Services Coach Interchange.jpg

2012-07-27T14:05:06Z

Adpi: © Copyright Betty Longbottom and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

{{Photo
|description = © Copyright Betty Longbottom and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
|direction = Eastbound
|photographer = Betty Longbottom
|licence = Geograph
|source = http://www.geograph.org.uk/reuse.php?id=3049177
|feature1 = Burtonwood
|feature2 = Welcome Break }}

File:3049180 8cdfbc7f.jpg

2012-07-27T14:03:24Z

Adpi: Burtonwood Services Transport Interchange © Copyright Betty Longbottom and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

{{Photo
|description = Burtonwood Services Transport Interchange

© Copyright Betty Longbottom and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
|direction = Eastbound
|photographer = Betty Longbottom
|licence = Geograph
|source = http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3049180
|feature1 = Burtonwood
|feature2 = Welcome Break }}

File:021485 dcbe453c.jpg

2012-07-27T14:01:08Z

Adpi: Junction 8 of the M62 looking east bound. Burtonwood Services can be seen nestling in the trees in the middle of the picture. It was a big relief to many locals when it was decided to go ahead with opening this new junction and it has made a great differe

{{Photo
|description = Junction 8 of the M62 looking east bound. Burtonwood Services can be seen nestling in the trees in the middle of the picture. It was a big relief to many locals when it was decided to go ahead with opening this new junction and it has made a great difference to the amount of traffic using Cromwell Avenue visiting Ikea and other retail outlets in this area.

© Copyright andy and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
|direction = Eastbound
|photographer = andy
|licence = Geograph
|source = http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/21485
|feature1 = Burtonwood
|feature2 = Welcome Break }}

Cobham

2012-07-27T13:45:13Z

Adpi: /* Trivia and History */

{{Services
|type = planned
|image = Extra MSA Cobham Ltd.jpg
|operator = Extra
|road = [[M25]] between J9 and J10
|address = Land south of M25 adjacent to New Barn Farm Bookham Road Cobham Surrey
|postcode = KT11 3JS
|maplink = http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?source=embed&f=d&hl=en&geocode=1373362266497714880,51.306346,-0.406477&saddr=51.306043,-0.40658&daddr=&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=15&sll=51.30611,-0.408146&sspn=0.01108,0.029182&ie=UTF8&ll=51.30611,-0.408146&spn=0.014112,0.033088&z=14
|telephone = 01494 678876
|signposted = It will be
|opened = 2012 (September)
|gridref = TQ110576
|stype = Single site located between junctions with access to both sides.
|coords = 51.311395, -0.419326
|website = cobham
|markerpost = 068.9 }}

''This is the proposed Extra service area on the M25. For the closed service station on the A2, see [[A2#Cobham|Services on the A2]].''

After being proposed for over 10 years, Cobham has finally been given the go-ahead to be built on the [[M25]], giving the road a much-needed fourth service area - see [[Areas Without Services#West London|Areas Without Services]].

It was scheduled to open in early 2010, but this was put back to early 2012 following various planning issues.

==Facilities==
'''General''': [[Quicksilver]], [[Regus]] Business Lounge 
'''Restaurants''': {{KFC}}, {{McDonald's}}, {{Starbucks}}, {{Eat In}}, {{Greggs}}, [[Papa John's Pizza]] 
'''Shops''': {{WHSmith}}, {{M&S Simply Food}} 
'''Fuel''': {{Shell}} (pump types unknown) 
'''Motel''': [[Days Inn]]

==Trivia and History==
During the same week, [[Beaconsfield]] services on the M40 were granted planning permission. Cobham will be built on the New Barn Farm site, and construction is currently under way.

Upon granting the permission, John Prescott said there was a "a clear and compelling need". Despite this, it was very controversial, especially as the site will be built on green belt land. The services themselves will be built to the north of the motorway, with an underpass allowing westbound traffic to access them.

When the plans for the services first went public, they were going to have an [[LP4]] restaurant and an [[Etap Hotel]], but these have now been replaced by Welcome Break's [[Eat In]] and [[Days Inn]] respectively. The [[Starbucks]] outlet will also be run by [[Welcome Break]] and is set to become their 'largest Starbucks outlet'. Meanwhile, the [[Greggs]] outlet and the [[M&S Simply Food]] store will both be run by [[Moto]]. This will be the first time one operator's own brand has been introduced to a rival service station.

==Alternatives==
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession|1|M25|[[Clacket Lane]] (22 miles) [[Pease Pottage]] (M23 south, 39 miles)|
[[South Mimms]] (42 miles) [[Toddington]] (M1 north, 51 miles) [[Beaconsfield]] (M40 north, 26 miles) [[Heston]] (M4 east, 21 miles) [[Reading]] (M4 west, 42 miles) [[Fleet]] (M3 south, 23 miles) [[Ripley]] (A3 south, 5 miles)}}
{{Succession|2|Extra|''none on M25'' [[Beaconsfield]] (M40 north, 26 miles)|
''none''}}</table>

==Further Reading==

* [http://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=76 Cobham discussion thread]
* [http://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1028 Cobham development]

{{notopen}}
[[Category:2010s]][[Category:M25]]

Fleet

2012-07-27T13:41:52Z

Adpi: /* Trivia */

{{Services
|type = motorway
|image = Fleet south extension.jpg
|operator = Welcome Break
|road = [[M3]] between J4a and J5
|address = Welcome Break M3 Services Fleet Services Fleet Hampshire
|postcode = GU51 1AA
|telephone = 01252 621656
|signposted = As [[Waitrose]]/[[McDonalds]]/[[Starbucks]]
|opened = 1973
|prevop = [[Trusthouse Forte]]
|gridref = SU798558
|stype = Two sites located between junctions, connected by an internal bridge.
|rating = Fleet
|website = fleet
|coords = 51.296071, -0.855625
|facebook = pages/Fleet-Services/160034187340928
|markerpost = 060.3 }}

Built in the middle of a forest, Fleet is a popular service area on the main route between London and the South West. It can get quite busy during holiday times and is one of few services to offer [[McDonald's]] as well as [[KFC]] and [[Burger King]].

{{Nav}}
==Facilities==
'''General''': Meeting Room, [[BT WiFi]], [[Welcome Break Gaming]], [[Traffic Information]] 
'''Restaurants''': {{Burger King}}, {{Starbucks}}, {{Eat In}}, {{KFC}}, {{McDonald's}} 
'''Shops''': {{WHSmith|costaexpress=yes|krispykreme=yes}}, {{Waitrose}} 
'''Fuel''': {{Shell|lpg=Autogas|costaexpress=yes}} 
'''Motel''': {{Days Inn|(S)|12563}}

==Parking Prices==
First two hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £8 and caravans, coaches and HGVs £22.50. These prices include a £2/£10 food voucher respectively.

Prices can be paid in the shop and restaurant, with instructions in each car park. They are strictly enforced by [[ParkingEye]].

==Trivia==
For quite a while Fleet was the only service area on the M3, and even today it's the only 'proper' services for south-western traffic for the next 130 miles. It was also one of the first to go for a more rural design, with a tightening budget and environmental concerns not allowing for the more striking designs that had been used so far.

It's one of two Welcome Break services which have a McDonald's. In 1995 Welcome Break announced that following its success they were going to open a McDonald's at all of their services, but this process was stopped after Welcome Break was bought by [[Granada]] who already had a deal with Burger King.

The footbridge at Fleet was built with this section of motorway, but the rest of the services weren't built for a few years, so for a while we were left with a bridge connecting two sides of wasteland.

Fleet were one of the first services to try out Welcome Break's new look in 2006. It also appears to have quite a lot of Facebook groups - I count eight, most of which are complimentary.

On BBC Southern Counties Radio, Jeremy Clarkson described the "Fleet cheat" where you use the services' back exit to avoid queues on the motorway, but he was told there were now rising bollards in use, to which he suggested getting a Hummvee. They also featured in an early episode of 'Waterloo Road'.

The BBC Domesday website suggests that in 1986, 60% of the services' trade happened on the westbound side.

An additional [[Waitrose]] store opened on the northbound side on the 27th July 2012.

==Survey Results==
In May 2012 and August 2011, Visit England rated the northbound services as 3 stars and the southbound side as 4 stars.

In 2008 the services won a five star loo award.

In 2006 and again in 2007, the toilets at the petrol station were given a three-star loo award. The services themselves were rated four-star.

The services were inspected by the AA on the 24th and 25th of March 2007. These are their results:
{{AA survey results
|roadsafety = Acceptable
|outdoorfacilities = Very Poor
|indoorfacilities = Very Poor
|catering = Acceptable
|shop = Very Good
|service = Good
|familyfriendliness = Very Poor
|hygiene = Good
|pricing = Poor
|finalscore Acceptable }}

The services were said to be well signed and supervised, with a good shop and clean facilities. The biggest problem raised was the lack of disabled access. The lack of outside space and cold snacks were also highlighted.

In 1992 the services won the entire Loo of the Year competition.

==Alternatives==
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession|1|M3|''none on M3'' [[South Mimms]] (M25 north, 52 miles) [[Clacket Lane]] (M25 south, 48 miles) [[Pease Pottage]] (M23 south, 51 miles) [[Toddington]] (M1 north, 18 miles)|
[[Winchester]] (25 miles) [[Popham]] (A303, 18 miles)}}
{{Succession|2|Welcome Break|[[South Mimms]] (M25 north, 52 miles)|
''none''}}</table>

{{AA survey footer|2007}}
[[Category:1970s]][[Category:M3]]

File:Burtonwood Plan - November 2011.jpg

2012-07-27T13:37:26Z

Adpi:

{{Photo
|description = Historical Plan of Burtonwood Services (Eastbound Only) During November 2011 - Now Out of Date
|normal = no
|feature1 = Burtonwood
|feature2 = Plans }}

File:Burtonwood Plan - November 2011.jpg

2012-07-27T13:35:58Z

Adpi: Undo revision 21826 by Adpi (talk)

{{Photo
|description = Plan of Burtonwood Services (Eastbound Only) During November 2011.
|normal = no
|feature1 = Burtonwood
|feature2 = Plans }}

File:Burtonwood Plan - November 2011.jpg

2012-07-27T13:30:44Z

Adpi:

{{Photo
|description = NOW OUT OF DATE -
Plan of Burtonwood Services (Eastbound Only) During November 2011.
|normal = no
|feature1 = Burtonwood
|feature2 = Plans }}

[[Category:Deletion Requests]]

Burtonwood

2012-07-27T13:27:15Z

Adpi: Plan out of date - removal of eat in

{{Services
|type = motorway
|operator = Welcome Break
|image = Burtonwood Plan - November 2011.jpg
|road = [[M62]] at J8
|address = Welcome Break Group Ltd Burtonwood Motorway Services Area M62 Great Sankey Warrington Cheshire
|postcode = WA5 3AX
|telephone = 01925 651656
|signposted = As [[Starbucks]]/[[KFC]]
|prevop = [[Trusthouse Forte]]
|opened = 1974
|gridref = SJ576913
|stype = Single site located at a junction.
|rating = Burtonwood
|website = burtonwood
|extrawebsite = http://www.burtonwoodservices.co.nr/ Staff Reunion Site
|coords = 53.41725, -2.63792
|briefroad = M62 at J8
|facebook = pages/Burtonwood-Services/154377507920293
|markerpost = 024 }}

A shrinking service area at the end of the M62, it was recently refurbished after one of the two sides were closed.

{{Nav}}
==Facilities==
'''General''': [[BT WiFi]], [[Welcome Break Gaming]], Showers 
'''Restaurants''': {{Starbucks}}, {{KFC}}, 
'''Shops''': {{WHSmith|costaexpress=yes}} 
'''Fuel''': {{Shell|costaexpress=yes}} 
'''Motel''': none

==Parking Prices==
First two hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £8 and caravans, coaches and HGVs £17.50. These prices include a £2/£7 food voucher respectively.

Prices can be paid in the shop, with instructions in each car park. They are strictly enforced by [[ParkingEye]].

==Trivia==
[[File:Burtonwood_westbound_1.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The abandoned westbound services]]
Burtonwood has slowly, over time, become a rather neglected service area. They were badly hurt when the missing J8 was utilised to serve the upcoming '''Omega''' development which has still not commenced. As a result of the junction's position it also serves Gemini Retail Park and as a result the westbound services have now been boarded up and abandoned. Westbound traffic can access the eastbound services via the J8 roundabout (entrance) and the old emergency access road (exit back to J8). This was first proposed in 2000 when the Highways Agency built the new J8, but it didn't happen until about 2008.

Before the closure, Burtonwood had very much become a 'no-go zone' amongst truckers as it was renowned for being dodgy and dangerous. Halving the site meant that some of the facilities had to be lost, including (unusually for a Welcome Break), the lack of a [[Burger King]] and a [[Coffee Primo]]. The old westbound side has now been demolished by Marshall and is currently under development. Currently, the development (known as Gemini 8) consists of a [[Travelodge]], [[Starbucks]] and a [[Harvester]] pub/restaurant. The remaining land is expected to be utilised for commercial purposes (e.g. offices and distribution).

On the other hand, the eastbound site has been refurbished and it has joined up as a coach interchange.

The services consist (or consisted) of two small, octagonal pagoda-style buildings which are visible from the motorway. The design was supposed to make the most of the simple landscape, allowing the buildings to be clearly visible from the road. The roof would have been red, as an early way to advertise the services' branding, but planning permission was refused and instead it was copper, soon colouring to its more memorable green. The buildings are said to be haunted as they are built on the site of a disused airfield where an aircraft crashed in the '50s. Perhaps that's why they didn't do very well!

==Survey Results==
In May 2012 and August 2011, Visit England rated the services as 2 stars, making it one of the worst-performing.

In 2008 the services won a five star loo award.

==Alternatives==
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession|1|M62|''none''|
[[Birch]] (20 miles) [[Lymm]] (M6 south, 10 miles) [[Knutsford]] (M6 south, 15 miles) [[Charnock Richard]] (M6 north, 20 miles)}}
{{Succession|2|Welcome Break|''none''|
[[Hartshead Moor]] (44 miles) [[Charnock Richard]] (M6 north, 20 miles)}}</table>

[[Category:1970s]][[Category:M62]]

Cherwell Valley

2012-07-05T12:49:50Z

Adpi: /* Facilities */

{{Services
|type = motorway
|image = Cherwell Valley new side.jpg
|operator = Moto
|road = [[M40]] at J10 (also accessible to traffic on the [[A43]] and the B430)
|address = Moto Services Ltd Cherwell Valley Motorway Services Area Northampton Road Ardley Bicester Oxfordshire
|postcode = OX27 7RD
|telephone = 01869 346060
|signposted = As [[Burger King]]/[[Costa]]/[[M&S]]
|opened = 1994 (rebuilt in 2011)
|prevop = [[Granada]]
|gridref = SP551282
|stype = Single site located at a junction.
|rating = Cherwell
|website = cherwell-valley
|coords = 51.949916, -1.198615
|facebook = pages/Cherwell-Valley-Services/153131138040962?sk=info
|briefroad = M40 at J10 and A43
|markerpost = 106 }}

Now the newest service station in the country, a new amenity building opened at Cherwell Valley on 30th June 2011.

{{Nav}}

==Facilities==
'''General''': Showers, Free [[Wi-Fi]], [[Lucky Coin]], [[Full Hou$e]], [[LPW Truck Wash]], [[Traffic Information]], Meeting Room 
'''Restaurants''': {{EDC}}, {{Burger King}}, {{Costa}}, {{Upper Crust}}, {{West Cornwall Pasty Company}} 
'''Shops''': {{WHSmith|costaexpress=yes|krispykreme=yes}}, {{M&S Simply Food}}, {{Fone Bitz}}, {{Cotton Traders}} 
'''Fuel''': {{Esso|costaexpress=yes|adblue=yes|electriccar=yes}} 
'''Motel''': {{Travelodge|12}}

==Parking Prices==
First two hours free for all vehicles, after which cars must pay £10 and HGVs £21.50, or £23 to include a £9 food voucher.

Prices are paid using [[PayByPhone|PayByPhone - more details]]. The location code is 2432.

The fees are strictly enforced by [[CP Plus]].

==Trivia and Details==
[[File:M40_queues.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Queueing outside the services]]
[[File:Cherwell Valley centre.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Inside the old services]]
===Location===
Cherwell Valley is a large service area and it's the first 'proper' one for traffic coming from the South Coast on the A34. Between the opening of the M40 in 1990 and the opening of the services in 1994, it was possible to drive from Dover to Telford (239 motorway miles) without passing any services, and as a result, when it did open, it became the busiest service area in Europe.

Its biggest flaw is the junction it's on, which was remodelled following the upgrade of the A43. The new junction has five single-lane sliproads, four major exits and three tight roundabouts. One of the roundabouts causes a conflict between traffic heading from the M40 north to the A43 and traffic heading from the A43 to the M40 south, causing queues even outside rush hour. Even if you don't need a break when you see signs for the services, you will when you get there.

If the services weren't there, rebuilding the junction would be much easier.

===Original Building===
The original services were one of the first to gain a [[M&S Simply Food]] store, which took up four retail units and two 'workspaces'. The store was later extended along with the Travelodge to keep up with demand. Despite this, Moto tried to claim compensation from the Highways Agency for a loss of traffic due to the roadworks and the new junction layout. Moto lost the case.

The services were considered for six years, and they finally opened on the 31st March 1994 costing £20m and taking up 56 acres of land. Before then there were emergency fuel and toilet facilities located at the junction. Six possible sites were looked at before the services were built. They were designed to resemble a country house, and the entrance to the car park still creates the impression of a driveway today.

The building had an entrance lobby with a coffee shop inside it. This was built in 2000 and was supposed to house 'Granada 2 Go', an express food store - the idea may have been shortlived or dropped in favour of [[Upper Crust]] or Caffe Ritazza. There was also a plant room built between the motel and the services which was originally a tourist information centre. There were plans to connect this to the main building but they didn't happen.

In 1999, Granada proposed extending the restaurant area to include a formal coffee lounge over the area surrounding the children's play area, with a new, larger play area being built behind the building. The plans would have included a reception, 8 private rooms, 12 personal workstations and a terrace with picnic tables stretching over the area between the services and the motel. There would have also been a "BT Communications Room", which was eventually built as a separate building.

Other abandoned plans included 'family rooms' as part of the toilets area. Much of the front of the services (where Thorntons and M&S were) was an extension, with the entrance originally being next to Little Chef/Costa Coffee. Ladbrokes was originally an amusement arcade.

===Fire===
On the 15th April at 1pm there was a fire in one of Moto's store rooms which took hold of the roof and eventually destroyed the whole amenity building, narrowly missing the adjacent Travelodge. Around 120 firefighters tackled the blaze which lasted until 5pm and resulted in delays on the M40 and a closure of the A43.

On the 23rd April a new marquee style building opened at the western end of the car park as a temporary measure until better facilities could be set up. It could hold 100 people, served drinks and a limited hot food menu. Some better facilities that could house all the expected features opened on the 15th July at the south-eastern end of the car park and were used until the permanent building was ready. [[Ladbrokes]] was the only facility missing from the temporary building, although this never returned at all.

[http://www.heart.co.uk/oxfordshire/local/news/cherwell-valley-services-fire/ Heart Oxfordshire] have some photos of the fire.

The building was demolished throughout May.

===Replacement===
On the 1st July a planning application was put in for the final amenity building after design work started hours following the fire. It was almost identical to [[Wetherby]], with the same green credentials, only designed to accommodate busier peak periods. All the brands, including [[Thorntons]], which was unique to the services, were set to be included in the new building, but this didn't materialise: a meeting centre opened here instead. [[Ladbrokes]] opened as [[Upper Crust]]. Whilst the reconstruction was taking place the motel closed and was going to become a [[Days Inn]], but the plans were dropped and the {{Travelodge||12}} reopened on the 26th May 2011.

The new building opened on the 30th June 2011, shortly before which it was announced that [[Domino's Pizza]] would be included. This never happened, and the plans were shortly dropped.

==Survey Results==
In May 2012, Visit England rated the services as 4 stars. In August 2011, they gave them 3 stars, but it's not clear which building they were grading. The new one was said to have the best design of any service area.

In 2006 the services won a five star loo award and were graded 4/5 by Holiday Which?.

==Alternatives==
{{Succession start}}
{{Succession|1|M40|[[Oxford]] (20 miles) [[Family Farm]] (A34, 7 miles)|
[[Warwick]] (22 miles)}}
{{Succession|1|A43|''start of road''|
[[Northampton]] (22 miles) [[Brackley]] (8 miles)}}
{{Succession|2|Moto|[[Chieveley]] (A34, 44 miles)|
[[Tamworth]] (M42, 61 miles) [[Frankley]] (M5 north, 58 miles) [[Markfield]] (M1 north, 63 miles)}}</table>

==Further Reading==
*[http://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?p=5374#p5374 Discussion of the Fire]

{{Credit|the user 'MatthewB6323'}}
{{Featured Content|Details on the service area which has seen a whole load of history in less than 20 years.}}
[[Category:1990s]][[Category:M40]][[Category:HA Approved Truckstops]]

Cotton Traders

2012-07-02T17:15:04Z

Adpi:

{{Infobox
|colour = #C8252A
|image = 2012-06-16 07.45.31.jpg
|locations = 9
|openinghours = Monday - Saturday 09:00 - 18:00, Sunday 09:00 - 17:00
|associated = [[WHSmith]], [[Fone Bitz]]
|introduced = 2008
|website = www.cottontraders.co.uk
}}

The infamous clothes shop opened on both sides of [[Strensham]] in the summer of 2008. It was introduced to [[Roadchef]] to attract customers, and to show it wasn't just the basics that was sold at motorway services. Cotton Traders sell clothes and shoes in general, along with a-few other accessories. Most of the Cotton Trader Outlets were historically stores in the streets of towns or cities and also in Shopping Centres. Now they can be found on the move with the help of [[Roadchef]] and more recently [[Moto]].

==Locations:==
Cotton Traders operate at some [[Roadchef]] and [[Moto]] services: {{viewonamap}}
*[[Chester]] (M56)
*[[Cherwell Valley]] (M40/A43)
*[[Clacket Lane]] (M25)
*[[Leigh Delamere]] (M4)
*[[Magor]] (M4)
*[[Maidstone]] (M20)
*[[Strensham]] (M5)
*[[Toddington]] (M1) ''(northbound only)''
*[[Watford Gap]] (M1) ''(northbound only)''

User:Adpi

2012-02-16T09:01:44Z

Adpi: Blanked the page

File:Burtonwood Plan - November 2011.jpg

2011-11-19T09:08:31Z

Adpi:

{{Photo
|description = Plan of Burtonwood Services (Eastbound Only) During November 2011.
|normal = no
|feature1 = Burtonwood
|feature2 = Plans }}

File:Beaconsfield Plan.jpg

2011-11-19T09:08:14Z

Adpi:

{{Photo
|description = Plan of Beaconsfield Services During November 2011.
|normal = no
|feature1 = Beaconsfield
|feature2 = Plans }}

File:Strensham North V2.jpg

2011-11-19T09:07:38Z

Adpi:

{{Photo
|description = Plan of Strensham Services (Northbound) During November 2011.
|normal = no
|feature1 = Strensham
|feature2 = Plans }}

File:StrenshamPlan2005.png

2011-11-19T09:06:21Z

Adpi:

{{Photo
|description = Plan of Strensham Services (Southbound) During 2005 (Historical).
|direction = Southbound
|date = 16/10/2011
|photographer = [[User:Gourleyo|Gourleyo]]
|feature1 = Strensham
|feature2 = Plans }}
[[Category:Photos taken in 2011]][[Category:Gourleyo pictures]]

File:Strensham South.jpg

2011-11-19T09:05:13Z

Adpi:

{{Photo
|description = Plan of Strensham Services (Southbound) During August 2011.
|normal = no
|feature1 = Strensham
|feature2 = Plans }}

File:Guess.jpg

2011-10-21T12:51:40Z

{{Photo
|description = © Copyright David Dixon and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
|licence = Geograph
|source = http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2431974 }}
[[Category:Miscellaneous Pictures]]