Then:

Trivia:

Malcolm Surl writes:

"The coach park was originally designed so that entrance was on the north (industrial estate) side and exit on the south (motorway) side with coaches parking facing the services. The north entrance was barriered off at least ten years ago in an effort to stop HGV's from mis-using the coach park. Hence, until this Summer's re-vamp, coaches had to straddle both lanes and make a very awkward right turn to enter via the old south side exit, park facing away from the building and dice with death to exit via a slip on the east side - dice with death as the angle of the slip meant that other exiting traffic, which had priority, was in the blind spot of ordinary mirrors. Did it work ? No. The tightness of the entrance turn made it most difficult for coaches - which have a fixed wheelbase - whereas artics got in with relative ease !"

Exeter is a single site services, i.e. the one site serves both sides. It lives on a roundabout, so you have local traffic aswell+ A30/A303 traffic. There is ample parking, although in busy periods everyone tries to pile round the nearest spaces on entry. If you drive on past the services, you'll soon find spaces!. At peak times, the ladies loo can develop a queue. Becuase of its position at the gateway to the West Country, Summer Saturday are always busy with people travelling to or from Devon and Cornwall. Having said that- there was still room to sit and eat or you could drink coffee on the many sofas. (it has possibly the largest assembly of sofas in any MSA!) The photo below is a busy saturday.

Sept 07:

Malcolm Surl writes (2007):

"In common with many Moto services, a Marks & Spencer outlet was added about 18 months ago and this was slightly enlarged and re-facaded during early Summer 2007. Also, the Moto Shop (shown in photo) was transferred to operation by W H Smith earlier this year."
"Exeter is an important pick-up, drop off and changeover point for coaches as well as 'loo stop' since there are no more loos open of an evening on 4hr plus journeys to Cornwall via Plymouth. How thoughtful, then, of Moto to choose mid-Summer 2007 to close the coach park completely for re-vamping ! Coaches had to park where they could in amongst the HGV's and caravans so that passengers had not only to thread their way between manoeuvring trucks and caravans but also cross the main car exit road on a bend to reach the entrance. The revised coach park opened in mid August and the jury is still out about whether or not it is an overall improvement meanwhile the major beneficiary has been .... Taunton Deane Services !"

Thanks

Malcolm Surl