Wetherby service area.

[Sundowner]

Recently travelled down A1(M) and decided to stop at the above service area. Queue was half way down the slip road to the motorway. It did move fairly steadily though. Eventually came onto the access road for the service area and stayed in left hand lane. Approx 150 metres in and the right hand lane indicated parking for caravans, Motorhomes etc. So proceeded down this road. Went to turn into one of the spaces only to be told that it was not for us as we were a van!. I tried to explain to the guy monitoring the bays that our V5 classification is a Motor Caravan. ( DVLA / Gov/uk state this effectively is a motorhome. ) Guy insists it is a van and then threatened us with a fine if we stayed there. Then stated it is only for large motorhomes. Quite what he means by large I don’t know as some motorhomes are barely bigger than our Cali . He then proceeded to take pictures of cars in other bays and as I didn’t want to queue a second time or risk a fine we left. Checked the reviews for this service area and indeed some people have been fined. Money making scam or what . Signage is not clear in this area. We are at the mercy of people who have no idea what they are looking at.
As an aside checked Google earth of the car park. It clearly shows large “vans” taking up two spaces. I wonder if they were fined for not parking wholly within one bay.

 

[stoobthealien]

I'm a regular user of the services - they don't always have someone policing it (more often than not they don't!) so I suspect you've seen photos of when it's not policed!

 

[willwander]

Yeah it’s terrible. It’s my local. I drop in there occasionally, you dodged a bullet. The standard car parking bays are so tight you can’t open the doors once you get in, and that’s in a car, worse in the van. Mind you most cars are as big as vans these days anyway.

BTW it’s not just Wetherby. I hate pretty much every motorway service station in the UK and the people that frequent them.

 

[Barbara]

Given up going to Cambridge services A14 as spaces too small I parked once by reversing in , good well done I thought but I could only get out of the sliding door and the car next to me could not open his door fully. I left.

Instead I go to

Applegreen Spaldwick Services A14​

which is basically a garage but not far away.

I find supermarkets best. I stopped at Ikea recently, only to use the loo but ended up spending £60 on items and had lunch.

 

[stoobthealien]

There are lots of sites dedicated to showing you nice independent alternatives not far off your route like this:

Alternative places to stop along the motorway. | The Extra Mile Venues

Search and results page for venues found in The Extra Mile guide, delicious alternatives to motorway services

venues.theextramile.guide

JustoffJunction.co.uk

Motorway Services and Alternatives to Motorway Services just off the Motorway. Great places to eat, cheaper petrol and much more near motorway junctions

www.justoffjunction.co.uk

 

[Sundowner]

Glad to hear it’s not just me. When we are out in the Cali we normally park in the caravan/motorhome bays when on the motorways with no problems. First time we have come across such a jobsworth.
Generally though I prefer non motorway driving. Far more involving and we tend to note areas where we enjoy stopping. One service area which does have a set of bays specifically for vehicles of our size and is designated as such ( Vans ) is Moto Rugby. Still get cars in there though.
Generally I find service area parking a free for all with tight bays and no concern for other people’s vehicles, boy racers and other motorists who don’t use just one bay when two will do, and most of all the criminally expensive fuel/food prices.
PS thanks for the alternative places to stop site. Must have a browse.

 

[willwander]

If you’re near there again, there’s a good free car park in Wetherby, right next to the river and the Wetherby Whaler, good fish and chips, is just a 2 min walk away.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

Recently travelled down A1(M) and decided to stop at the above service area. Queue was half way down the slip road to the motorway. It did move fairly steadily though. Eventually came onto the access road for the service area and stayed in left hand lane. Approx 150 metres in and the right hand lane indicated parking for caravans, Motorhomes etc. So proceeded down this road. Went to turn into one of the spaces only to be told that it was not for us as we were a van!. I tried to explain to the guy monitoring the bays that our V5 classification is a Motor Caravan. ( DVLA / Gov/uk state this effectively is a motorhome. ) Guy insists it is a van and then threatened us with a fine if we stayed there. Then stated it is only for large motorhomes. Quite what he means by large I don’t know as some motorhomes are barely bigger than our Cali . He then proceeded to take pictures of cars in other bays and as I didn’t want to queue a second time or risk a fine we left. Checked the reviews for this service area and indeed some people have been fined. Money making scam or what . Signage is not clear in this area. We are at the mercy of people who have no idea what they are looking at.
As an aside checked Google earth of the car park. It clearly shows large “vans” taking up two spaces. I wonder if they were fined for not parking wholly within one bay.

The Morrisons at borough bridge is not far away, with cheaper fuel and no parking police!

 

[Fishface]

French aires on autoroutes have in most cases the most fiendish twisting route with high concrete kerbs to prevent HGV's using the areas for cars - but since I guess they are sponsored by local bodywork repair shops if the aire is not busy we tend to use the HGV/Bigger vehicles part. Nobody seems to mind but haven't tested this on a busy hire full of hairy a$%ed truckers..

 

[stoobthealien]

French aires on autoroutes have in most cases the most fiendish twisting route with high concrete kerbs to prevent HGV's using the areas for cars - but since I guess they are sponsored by local bodywork repair shops if the aire is not busy we tend to use the HGV/Bigger vehicles part. Nobody seems to mind but haven't tested this on a busy hire full of hairy a$%ed truckers..

Can confirm they are fun with a caravan!

 

[willwander]

The Morrisons at borough bridge is not far away, with cheaper fuel and no parking police!

Head into Wetherby, free parking near the river and Wetherby Whaler chippy 2 mins walk.

 

[crookrise]

Don't think my Cali is a motorhome, I've looked for the separate shower/toilet facility however unless VW have it cleverly tucked away it's not there.

 

[Sundowner]

Hi Crookrise,

I think one of the points I am making is that all motorists can be at the mercy of jobsworths who view things rather differently. To threaten me with a penalty simply because he said my Cali ( motor caravan! ) is according to him parked incorrectly and is a van is nothing short of intimidation. The classification of the California was changed a few years ago after a few years of lobbying to place in the same/similar category as a motorhome. DVLA and GOV.UK will confirm this. IIRC it was originally classed as a car derived van and attracted a higher road tax category.
I have recently thought about attaching a small trailer to carry some equipment which I cannot do at the moment as space in the Cali is at a premium. What then? It certainly will not fit into a car bay.
I have never in all my years had this problem before. It is sad but all common sense these days appears to have disappeared completely. It is not only governments who see motorists as cash cows but many companies as well. Interestingly at Rugby services on the M6 it is significantly different but owned by the same company.
By the way you can have a shower and toilet in the Cali if required. Don’t fancy using the shower in full view of everybody. Not with my body anyway

 

[WelshGas]

Hi Crookrise,

I think one of the points I am making is that all motorists can be at the mercy of jobsworths who view things rather differently. To threaten me with a penalty simply because he said my Cali ( motor caravan! ) is according to him parked incorrectly and is a van is nothing short of intimidation. The classification of the California was changed a few years ago after a few years of lobbying to place in the same/similar category as a motorhome. DVLA and GOV.UK will confirm this. IIRC it was originally classed as a car derived van and attracted a higher road tax category.
I have recently thought about attaching a small trailer to carry some equipment which I cannot do at the moment as space in the Cali is at a premium. What then? It certainly will not fit into a car bay.
I have never in all my years had this problem before. It is sad but all common sense these days appears to have disappeared completely. It is not only governments who see motorists as cash cows but many companies as well. Interestingly at Rugby services on the M6 it is significantly different but owned by the same company.
By the way you can have a shower and toilet in the Cali if required. Don’t fancy using the shower in full view of everybody. Not with my body anyway

With a trailer you park in the Caravan bay.

 

[Sundowner]

Welshgas,

Which is precisely what I would do. . As I said in the OP we are at the mercy of people who have basic training at best and sent on their way to interpret instructions as they see fit. Should you unfortunately get a penalty there is very little chance of it being withdrawn. This is highlighted by a review on trustpilot for this service area. Trying to have a conversation with these jobsworths is futile . I understand that the management of these car parks is carried out by third party contractors whose only interest is making money any way they can. That in my opinion is 90% of the problem.

 

[secret lemonade drinker]

If they were intelligent enough to be brain surgeons they wouldn't be motorway service station parking attendants!
I just avoid Motorway Services if at all possible unless nature calls and I am on a motorcycle!

 

[crookrise]

Hi Crookrise,

I think one of the points I am making is that all motorists can be at the mercy of jobsworths who view things rather differently. To threaten me with a penalty simply because he said my Cali ( motor caravan! ) is according to him parked incorrectly and is a van is nothing short of intimidation. The classification of the California was changed a few years ago after a few years of lobbying to place in the same/similar category as a motorhome. DVLA and GOV.UK will confirm this. IIRC it was originally classed as a car derived van and attracted a higher road tax category.
I have recently thought about attaching a small trailer to carry some equipment which I cannot do at the moment as space in the Cali is at a premium. What then? It certainly will not fit into a car bay.
I have never in all my years had this problem before. It is sad but all common sense these days appears to have disappeared completely. It is not only governments who see motorists as cash cows but many companies as well. Interestingly at Rugby services on the M6 it is significantly different but owned by the same company.
By the way you can have a shower and toilet in the Cali if required. Don’t fancy using the shower in full view of everybody. Not with my body anyway

UK for you.
EU and you can spend the night in service FOC.

 

[Hawthorn37]

Yeh we nearly got done there. There’s always someone patrolling when we use the services. Even block people in vans towing!!