Hampshire drivers unhappy with motorway services

Drivers have ranked Hampshire’s motorway services amongst the lowest in the country.

Rownhams Services (near Southampton) was named third worst (75%) and Winchester Services Southbound (76%) the seventh worst.

This was found in a survey made by Transport Focus, the transport watchdog, when they surveyed 8,700 customers at England’s 112 motorway service areas.

Winchester News Online contacted Roadchef for Rownham services for a comment and a spokesperson said; they are “glad that the vast majority of our customers are happy with the service we provide”.

They then went on to tell WINOL that they have invested “millions of pounds” across the estate ‘upgrading existing facilities and launching new and innovative brand partnerships’ including bringing the first Costa drive-thrus to the motorway.

In the survey, customers voiced their opinions on toilet, staffing and food and drink facilities. Travellers were also asked what “impact visiting the motorway services had on their mood on arrival and then leaving the services”. The chief executive of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, said that [motorway services] up and down the country are “playing a positive role in helping them rest and recharge before continuing to drive”.

The Transport Minister, John Hayes, said that services should be “lovely places for drivers to enjoy” he then goes on to say that the scores have showed what can be done and says he wants to go “much further” and meet the evolving expectations of motorway users.