Aust / Severn View Services
Opened: 1966 Original owner: Top Rank Current Owner: Moto Name: Became Severn View in 1991 Then: Trivia: Now no longer on the M4, since the M4 is diverted over the second Severn Bridge, opened in 1996. This stretch of Motorway is now the M48. For many, a favored stop off on the M4 because of the view it once offered The diversion of the M4 led to a decline in the MSA’s customers. It was expected that the site would close, and in advance of this, the main building which offered splendid views of the bridge and the River Severn, was closed and sold off to become offices of a technology company. The services remained open in a building...
Full ReviewLeigh Delamere Services
Opened: 1972 Original owner: Current Owner: Moto Trivia: Current: A very big MSA- and one of Moto’s largest along with Cherwell Valley, Hilton Park, Forton, and Reading. Used as a coach transfer station. Has a variety of shops, (Birthday’s cards, Luxury chocolates, mobile phone, Hairdressers, etc) so a good place to stop if you need these things. Also has a fast coffee to go shop just inside the door for those who don’t want to stop for too long. Eastbound services also has a Barber...
Full ReviewMembury Services
Opened: 1972 Original owner: Current Owner: Welcome Break Location: J14/15 Then: Trivia: You can spot this MSA a few more miles off than normal due to Membury Transmitter which is in an adjacent field. This was built by the ITA (Independent Television Authority) to relay ITV to the South Midlands until about 1985. It transmitted nothing for many years but now is used by the BBC to transmit radio, but only at a very low power, so its size is misleading! (more) Built on the site of the Membury USAF airfield, which saw action during world war II. The motorway is built through the airfield, and the old control tower is still nearby. A memorial has been constructed in...
Full ReviewChievely Services
Opened: Original owner: Granada Current Owner: Moto Location: J 13/A34 (Off the motorway) Then: Trivia: Johnny: “Chievely’s enterance has also moved a house to fit the new junction layout, but somebody forgot to erase the old road markings! Currently, if you follow the arrows, you’ll end up in either a hedge or the wrong way down a one-way road!” Current: Johnny: “The junction has recently been redesigned. On my last visit, I found to enter the MSA A34N traffic had to navigate several tiny roundabouts, and to leave the MSA A34N, and M4 traffic have to navigate the same roundabouts.” Thanks: Johnny of...
Full ReviewReading Services
Opened: 1993 Original owner: Granada Current Owner: Moto Then: Trivia: Reasonably New. Even so, Highways Agency route management seminar (more) raised that the distance between Heston Services and Reading (40Km) is too far without an MSA, and a “possible solution” is to introduce a further MSA. (probably easier than moving Reading nearer to Heston 🙂 ) Originally planned to have been built by 1982. Services near to Reading were applied for at Warren Copse in 1968, then at Upperwood Farm, near Shurlock Row, in 1972. (These are east of Reading.) In 1974, the new Berkshire County Council, decided there was no need for any services between Heston and Membury. Then it said to choose a site near the west,...
Full ReviewHeston Services
Opened: 1968 Original owner: Granada Current Owner: Moto Then: In 1938, Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister, after returning from meeting Adolf Hitler, made a famous speech from Heston Aerodrome, part of which was located where the westbound car park is today Graham Cutler writes: “In the photos of Chamberlain returning from chatting with Hitler, you can see that the aircraft is parked on concrete and not on the grass runways or aprons where the assembled guests were waiting. (They all had to run to the aircraft to greet him). The only thing I am certain about, is that the concrete is laid at the front of one of the hangars – now covered by Heston Services, so it’s almost certain...
Full Review