Hartshead Moor services

Hartshead Moor services is a motorway service station on the M62 near Bradford, West Yorkshire. It is the highest service station in the United Kingdom.[3]

Hartshead Moor services
The westbound service area
Hartshead Moor services
Location in West Yorkshire, England
Hartshead Moor services
Location on the UK motorway network
Information
CountyWest Yorkshire
RoadM62 Motorway
Coordinates:53°42′48.3″N 01°44′43.9″W
OperatorWelcome Break
Previous operator(s)Ross[1]
Date opened1973[2]
WebsiteWelcome Break.

History

1974 coach bombing
Main article: M62 coach bombing

On 4 February 1974 a bomb was detonated on a coach ferrying British Army and Royal Air Force personnel from and to the bases at Catterick and Darlington during a period of industrial strike action on the trains. The incident occurred between junctions 26 and 27, shortly after midnight while most of those aboard were sleeping.[4] Twelve people died and more than fifty were injured.

A memorial plaque was installed in memory of those who were killed, situated in the entrance hall of the westbound section of the service area, which was used as a first aid station for those wounded in the blast.[5] A memorial service was held at the service area in February 2004.[6] In 2009 a new memorial was created outside the service area at the wishes of the relatives of those killed.[7]

Incidents

In December 2005 the RSPCA, working with the BBC filmed the sale of an African puff adder at the service area, exploiting a legal loophole to sell on the snake.[8] It was discovered in April 2006 that the service area's toilets were frequently being used for homosexual activity.[9]

Alpine Cleaning Services, who successfully pitched for investment on the television show Dragons' Den, opened one of their first truck-washing facilities at the service area in August 2006.[10]

Mural

The service station is one of fourteen for which large murals were commissioned from artist David Fisher in the 1990s, designed to reflect the local area and history.[11]

Location

The services are located between junctions 25 and 26 of the M62.

Awards
  • 2007 Loo of the Year award – Baby Change Facilities.[12]

References
  1. "Hertshead Moor". Msatrivia.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  2. "MSA Chronology". Msatrivia.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  3. Mason, Virginia. "12,000 portions of fish and chips and 140,000 cups of tea: A revolution is taking place at Hartshead Moor services – Halifax Today". Halifax Courier. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  4. "BBC ON THIS DAY | 4 | 1974: Soldiers and children killed in coach bombing". BBC News. 4 February 1974. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  5. "Bradford and West Yorkshire – Places – Tragedy on the M62". BBC. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  6. "England | Manchester | Coach bomb victims remembered". BBC News. 4 February 2004. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  7. Ryder, Gemma. "Fitting tribute to IRA coach bomb victims". Spenborough Guardian. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  8. "Deadly snakes for sale on M62 – Halifax Today". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  9. "Gay sex at M62 toilets – Halifax Today". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  10. "Cleaning company opens up on M62". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  11. "David Fisher ~ Somerset Artist". Archived from the original on 25 October 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  12. "Loo of the Year 2007 Results Brochure" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
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