§ Mr. Ellisasked the Minister of Transport how many concessionaires operating motorway service areas have made representations to vary the terms of their concessions; which firms made representations regarding which motorway service areas; and in which cases modified terms were arrived at.
§ Mr. SwinglerThree concessionaires have made representations to vary significantly the terms of their leases.
The Rank Organisation Ltd. have made general representations about the un-profitability of their concessions. They have also made special representations in respect of Hilton Park Service Area (M6) which has not been able to open because of the inability of the Local Authority to complete its sewage works until the late summer of this year. The firm are also concerned about diversion of traffic from this part of the motorway until the next length to Bescot is completed.
Granada Motorway Services Ltd. have also made general representations about the unprofitability of their concessions and special representations in respect of Frankley Service Area (M5); after construction of this Service Area had started the Highway Authorities introduced a scheme of traffic diversions which have temporarily taken a considerable amount of traffic from the motorway.
The Ross Group Ltd. have made general representations about the non-profitability of their concession at Leicester Forest East (M1).
No modified terms have been agreed for any of these sites, although applications in respect of the special circumstances at Hilton Park and Frankley are under consideration.
Following discussions with the Caterers Association of Great Britain on behalf of the operators of existing service areas we have agreed that, for the purposes of calculating additional rent, tobacco tax 327W will be excluded from the gross turnover of all future service areas. A proposal that the same concession should apply to all existing service areas has been rejected.
§ Mr. Ellisasked the Minister of Transport how many motorway service areas are now in operation; where they are;
LIST OF SERVICE AREAS NOW IN OPERATION 1. Newport Pagnell (Bucks.) … … … M1 Motorway Services Ltd. 2. Watford Gap (Northants) … … … M1 Blue Boar (Motorways) Ltd. 3. Strensham (Worcs.) … … … M5 Kenning Car Mart Ltd. 4. Charnock Richard (Lancs.) … … … M6 Motorway Services Ltd. 5. Knutsford (Ches.) … … … M6 Rank Organisation Ltd. 6. Keele (Staffs.) … … … M6 Motorway Services Ltd. 7. Farthing Corner (Kent) … … … M2 The Rank Organisation Ltd. 8. Toddington (Beds.) … … … M1 Granada Motorway Services Ltd* 9. Leicester Forest East (Leics.) … … … M1 Ross Group Ltd. 10. Forton (Lancs.) … … … M6 Rank Organisation Ltd. 11. Frankley (Worcs.) … … … M5 Granada Motorway Services Ltd. 12. Trowell (Notts.) … … … M1 Mecca Ltd. 13. Heston (Middx.) … … … M4 Granada Motorway Services Ltd. 14. Aust(Glos.) … … … M4 Rank Organisation Ltd.
§ Mr. Ellisasked the Minister of Transport how many motorway service areas are expected to come into service in each of the next five years.
§ Mr. SwinglerThe number in each year will depend on progress in the construction of the relevant lengths of motorway, in the statutory procedures leading to land acquisition, and in the successful conclusion of negotiations with potential developers.
We hope to put into operation during the next five years at least:
1968 … … … … 1 1969 … … … … 0 1970 … … … … 8 1971 … … … … 8 1972 … … … … 5
§ Mr. Ellisasked the Minister of Transport if she is making provision for a service area on the stretch of motorway (M5) now being constructed from Cribbs Causeway to Avonmouth.
§ Mr. SwinglerNo.
§ Mr. Ellisasked the Minister of Transport how the prices of food in motorway service areas compare with those in other catering services.
328Wwhat was the rate when each came into service; and who is the concessionaire in each case.
§ Mr. Swingler14 motorways service areas are now in operation. Details of the rents paid are confidential. The other particulars requested are:—
§ Mr. SwinglerThere are many dissimilar features in motorway and other kinds of catering. It must be borne in mind that prices charged at motorway service areas reflect high staff and other costs of offering a 24-hour service 7 days a week; of transport of staff and goods to sites often fairly remote from towns; of providing free facilities (parking, toilets, etc.) which must be available to all motorway users whether or not they patronise the catering facilities; or providing for sudden unpredictable peaks of traffic; and of dealing with the high level of pilfering, vandalism and litter.
§ Mr. Ellisasked the Minister of Transport how many departmental staff are dealing with motorway service areas; and what are their grades.
§ Mr. SwinglerThe section, the bulk of whose work deals with motorway service areas, numbers 17:
Considerable time of more senior officers is also taken up as circumstances demand.329W
- 1 Chief Executive Officer.
- 1 Senior Executive Officer.
- 3 Higher Executive Officers. 6 Executive Officers.
- 4 Clerical Officers.
- 2 Clerical Assistants.
In addition the Section calls for specialist and technical advice from the Finance, Economic, Legal, Engineering, Landscaping and horticultural staff within the Ministry, as well as from the Landscape Advisory Committee, other Ministries and Local Planning Authorities as required.
§ Mr. Ellisasked the Minister of Transport what were the reasons for altering the terms of the concession at Rank's Hilton Park motorway area.
§ Mr. SwinglerThe terms of the concession at Rank's Hilton Park motorway service area have not been altered. Various proposals for making adjustments to meet changed circumstances are being considered.
§ Mr. Ellisasked the Minister of Transport how many of the service areas on motorways give a full 24 hour, seven day a week, service including refreshments and serving both sides of the motorways.
§ Mr. Swingler12 of the 14 motorway Service Areas at present open to the public normally provide such a service. During slack periods catering service is not always available on both sides of the motorway simultaneously at 11 of these sites.
At present the traffic flow past Frankley (M5) is insufficient to warrant full 24 hours a day service, and at Heston (M4) the catering buildings are not yet completed.