Not so Welcome break

[Juan Mourep]

http://cars.aol.co.uk/2014/08/06/aol-cars-investigation-uncovers-service-station-parking-loophole/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk%7Cdl4%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D286681

Service stations are deterring motorists from taking vital rest breaks at times when they need it most because of "ludicrous" parking restrictions.

Flying in the face of government advice to motorists not to drive tired, draconian parking charges are being imposed on drivers who stop and nap at services for more than two hours.

An AOL Cars investigation uncovered a little known loophole in the parking restrictions in force at 58 service stations operated by Moto, where drivers who have been issued charge notices for genuinely napping can have their tickets quashed.

However, rivals Welcome Break – which operates 28 stations around the UK – stuck by its strict two-hour parking rules, even if it meant dangerously deterring drivers from stopping and having a sleep.


Welcome break have lost another customer, if they keep losing custom, they may just offer what their name implies.

 

[Pride of Lions]

That is ridiculous!...

I suggest to Welcome Break that they sleep on it and come back and realise this is the 21st century......

 

[BodyButter]

How long would you sleep for at a service station?

I had to pull over a couple of weeks ago because I was starting to fall asleep. I was only 15 minutes from my destination but I was sick and couldn't seem to snap out of it so I had a half hour nap at a service station.

 

[The Fear]

I've never slept at a service station, however the point is a good one well made. If someone is that shattered and they do the responsible thing.

Cool, I'll have no more welcome breaks, I'll take my wee elsewhere.

 

[mike_field]

Wouldn't be enforceable surely?

 

[thefacehead]

It is ludicrous greed that makes these decisions, it's not as if service stations don't have the parking spaces, I have never been in one, even on bank holidays where there haven't been spaces available. So therefore it must be blind greed, why else would they do it?

 

[Cheshire Villan]

Never pulled over for a kip at one of these places but did have a meeting with a colleague where we went 10 mins over the two hours. Got a letter with a picture of my car arriving and leaving with a demand for a £70 fine. Offered to pay the parking fee but I said that I wouldn't pay the fine. We had been using their onsite Costa for food and drink.

Somebody on here (thought it was Mike) said don't pay it. Checked it out and many don't. They keep sending letters demanding more money and then threatening legal action. They can't follow it through though. If it's not the Police or the local authority it is apparently unenforceable. They just give up in the end.