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 (West Yorkshire)
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. 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. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 October 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2008. Retrieved 16 April 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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