![]() 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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