It was good to see Helen Pidd going out to check the facts behind the Transport Focus survey in her story on Hartshead Moor East services (Beach balls and lime green loos: a brief stop at Britain’s worst services, 19 October). As a regular customer there, I’ve always found that it offers a well-presented and reliable range of food, and the staff are friendly and welcoming.
Importantly, for commuters heading into Leeds, Hartshead Moor is also ideally placed to grab a coffee before braving the city-bound traffic jams on the M621. Yes, Skelton Lakes might have its own country park and more food outlets, but it would take more than a Pret a Manger or a Pizza Express to tempt time-pressed commuters to drive past Leeds and head up the M1 for their quick pit stop. Some motorway services will always get better ratings than others but, apart from reliable fare and a friendly welcome, the key thing with motorway services is – like houses – location, location, location.
Graeme Cooper
Wallasey, Merseyside
• I was very surprised to see Hartshead Moor East voted the worst service station in Britain. It’s one of the few I know by name, and it was a huge convenience to my family – and especially my elderly dog – when my daughter moved to Huddersfield for a year. The Days Inn is cheap but excellent, and we could get coffee and food when arriving late from Glasgow on a Friday night. What more could a person want?
Jean McGowan
Glasgow
• Hartshead Moor East services has one of the shortest distances from the car park to the toilets – an important consideration for those of us in the prostate generation.
Tony Hirst
Darwen, Lancashire
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