Women’s showers, or unisex ones that are accessible separately from the toilet areas. On both sides of the motorway, I’m sick to death of hiking to the other side because the MSA operators think women only need to be clean when they’re going south. Two on each side if they’re in the Ladies loos, about 8 each side if they’re unisex, we don’t have time to queue (see 11/9 hour thing above). I don’t mind exchanging keys if the shower is clean, squirts down on you instead of out of the curtain, is predictably warm and there’s enough room in the cubicle and hooks on the wall to get undressed and keep your clothes dry. Hell, I’d pay a quid or two happily if they were really good.
And a level truck park, please. Would you sleep with a stack of bricks under one leg at the foot of your bed? That’s what it’s like when lorry parks are built on the ■■■■, which most of them are to a greater or lesser extent. It’s hideous trying to get parked the right way 'round to avoid the blood going to your head as you’re leaning against the cargo net to avoid rolling off the top bunk in your sleep.
On of the best MSA’s was Hilton Park till about 6 or so years ago when they shut the separate truck drivers cafe…i wrote to the operator by the way in protest and am still awaiting a reply, the food was good and they had a good bunch of girls up there in the cafe, and one or two fellers now i come to think about it.
I seem to recall several more Granada sites as they used to be and others having individual truck cafe’s, Toddington, Watford Gap was excellent too, loads more if you think about it.
The reason trucks are no longer required as regular bread and butter daily income for MSA’s is the continual huge rise in car traffic volume over the last 30 years, you can fit hundreds of cars in where 50 trucks take up a massive area and without the damage to the road surface, they needed us 30 years ago they don’t now.
Its nice to asked about this but none of us is under any illusion that we are anything but a bloody nuisance and if the operators could, as with Kidlington many years ago, ban trucks they would…note that you are not encouraged to park at Knutsford any more, that will be the next one i reckon to ban trucks all together.
It’s understandable, they are in business to make a few rich people richer, one truck taking up 6 car spaces is commercial horror to these people, they make a parking fee and thats it from most truck drivers who have more sense than to pay nearly 2 quid for a cup of tea with plastic milk to taste, a car could contain 4 people (kerching) including youngsters who only eat rubbish in most cases, factor in the huge number of coaches (kerching kerching)as train travel has got too expensive for those who have to pay for their own ticket.
I don’t understand the problems with Cambridge parking unless you have an abnormal vehicle, it does mean you have to back in a space though so those who can’t go backwards could get a bit of sorely needed practice in.
Pacmanfan:
They have recently introduced a charge for using the ATM, does this stop you visiting the sites or are you not fussed either way?.
Yes, when I lend the bank my money, I don’t expect to have to pay when I want it back.
the initial idea with the pay cash machines was good, putting them in places that would never get a proper cash machines, small village pubs, corner shops etc. therefore giving you the choice to pay for convenience. i then think it’s disgusting that these machines are used at places that warrant a proper cash machine and i wont use them.
Pacmanfan:
They have recently introduced a charge for using the ATM, does this stop you visiting the sites or are you not fussed either way?.
Yes, when I lend the bank my money, I don’t expect to have to pay when I want it back.
Ah… but I remember when the only way to get cash from your account was to queue
at a bank.I’d rather have charges applied to me directly,than spread all over like reduced interest rates etc.
stevieboy308:
the initial idea with the pay cash machines was good, putting them in places that would never get a proper cash machines, small village pubs, corner shops etc. therefore giving you the choice to pay for convenience. i then think it’s disgusting that these machines are used at places that warrant a proper cash machine and i wont use them.
Most of them DID have free cash machines in them,but then some ‘entrepreneur’ decided to get rid and make some more money out of people!!!
stevieboy308:
the initial idea with the pay cash machines was good, putting them in places that would never get a proper cash machines, small village pubs, corner shops etc. therefore giving you the choice to pay for convenience. i then think it’s disgusting that these machines are used at places that warrant a proper cash machine and i wont use them.
Most of them DID have free cash machines in them,but then some ‘entrepreneur’ decided to get rid and make some more money out of people!!!
no they didn’t, that was the point!! like i said nothing wrong with the initial idea
stevieboy308:
the initial idea with the pay cash machines was good, putting them in places that would never get a proper cash machines, small village pubs, corner shops etc. therefore giving you the choice to pay for convenience. i then think it’s disgusting that these machines are used at places that warrant a proper cash machine and i wont use them.
Most of them DID have free cash machines in them,but then some ‘entrepreneur’ decided to get rid and make some more money out of people!!!
no they didn’t, that was the point!! like i said nothing wrong with the initial idea
Most of the MSAs did which was my point!!,most of the Banks or Building societys would have a hole in the wall one there,then all of a sudden they were replaced with the chargeable ones or the ones that didn’t have one were given one of the standalone ones.
stevieboy308:
the initial idea with the pay cash machines was good, putting them in places that would never get a proper cash machines, small village pubs, corner shops etc. therefore giving you the choice to pay for convenience. i then think it’s disgusting that these machines are used at places that warrant a proper cash machine and i wont use them.
Most of them DID have free cash machines in them,but then some ‘entrepreneur’ decided to get rid and make some more money out of Stupid people!!!
Fixed that for you
Never would I pay a fee to take out my own cash, you would have to be a few sandwiches short of a picnic to be happy to pay £1.50+ to take out your own cash.
stevieboy308:
the initial idea with the pay cash machines was good, putting them in places that would never get a proper cash machines, small village pubs, corner shops etc. therefore giving you the choice to pay for convenience. i then think it’s disgusting that these machines are used at places that warrant a proper cash machine and i wont use them.
Most of them DID have free cash machines in them,but then some ‘entrepreneur’ decided to get rid and make some more money out of people!!!
no they didn’t, that was the point!! like i said nothing wrong with the initial idea
Most of the MSAs did which was my point!!,most of the Banks or Building societys would have a hole in the wall one there,then all of a sudden they were replaced with the chargeable ones or the ones that didn’t have one were given one of the standalone ones.
yeah agree with you there, i thought you was on about most small village pubs, shops had them, as that’s what i’d mentioned as i said, anywhere that warrants a proper cash machine should not have a pay one.
Juddian:
I don’t understand the problems with Cambridge parking unless you have an abnormal vehicle, it does mean you have to back in a space though so those who can’t go backwards could get a bit of sorely needed practice in.
The spaces are too tight, and you’ve a job to open your cab door, and I called in there one night and left the truck to go and get some grub, and some scroat had a practice backing into the space alongside me, but also backed into the side of the my cab then ■■■■■■ off. Luckily no dints or structural damage just scuffed paintwork
on the gym front, when i was tramping i would of used a gym, but i’d be surprised if enough people would to make it economically viable?
the gaming rooms, never been in, but i never play gamblers in pubs either.
showers, go and have a shower in them, do it for a week without showering at home, you wont need to ask anybody else what the issues are!
i was reluctant to park overnight at extra because there was nothing in it for me, moto and welcome break gave you a £6+ incentive to park, this made my burger king addiction a bit cheaper! i’d often stop at extra in the day for the pizza hut and MDs (helped me get through my BK addiction!) at one point the MDs in p’boro did a truckers discount or deal. i only ever ate in the cafe type food outlets if i had a voucher, once the fast food outlets stopped taking them, you need to spend about £8 to get a brekkie - ridiculous.
stevieboy308:
the initial idea with the pay cash machines was good, putting them in places that would never get a proper cash machines, small village pubs, corner shops etc. therefore giving you the choice to pay for convenience. i then think it’s disgusting that these machines are used at places that warrant a proper cash machine and i wont use them.
Most of them DID have free cash machines in them,but then some ‘entrepreneur’ decided to get rid and make some more money out of people!!!
no they didn’t, that was the point!! like i said nothing wrong with the initial idea
Most of the MSAs did which was my point!!,most of the Banks or Building societys would have a hole in the wall one there,then all of a sudden they were replaced with the chargeable ones or the ones that didn’t have one were given one of the standalone ones.
Just so you know guys…Cambridge, Peterborough and Baldock used to have free Abbey/Santander cash machines in the service areas and the filling stations…they have replaced the ones in the main service buildings with the chargeable ones but the filling stations still have the free Santander machines outside the main entrance
