Non-Official, Offline Motorway Services in Ireland

Carawaystick · 16-06-2014 3:20pm

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Well Fermoy wouldn't make much sense to me as it's only 20 minutes out from the Jack Lynch tunnel so I can understand that.

You are assuming traffic all starts in Cork City, when in fact Fermoy might be halfway on a journey from Dublin to West Cork

There's the online and offline applegreens at Lusk/Curtlough, which are even nearer Dublin city than Fermoy is to Cork city, and they do ok.

D Trent · 21-06-2014 4:12pm

http://m.rte.ie/news/touch/2014/0621/625517-roads/

linny · 28-06-2014 7:55pm

http://idocsweb.kilkennycoco.ie/ViewFiles.aspx?docid=216989&format=djvu

just seen the drawings for the m9 service station are up on Kilkenny coco web site, looks like its going to be fairly thought out over 100 car park spaces

hi5 · 29-06-2014 11:44pm

The Coco seem very specific that there is no pedestrian access from the village allowed(no footpaths to)...for Motorway traffic only.

marmurr1916 · 05-07-2014 12:48am

Article doesn't say if the 'service stations' are going to be MSAs or just fancy petrol station but if the former, it'll be a major expansion of the MSA network, offline and online.

Motorway service area company Applegreen is to create 360 jobs over the next 18 months as part of a €30 million expansion. It is constructing six service stations, with the first new forecourt opening in Co Wicklow today.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/more-than-400-postions-in-bumper-day-for-jobs-1.1854456

Edit: just saw this.

Applegreen will say today that it plans to expand its network of motorway service stations over the next 18 months.

The expansion will create 360 permanent jobs as well as 250 construction jobs.

Applegreen will make the announcement at the opening of a motorway service area at Junction 14 on the M11 in Wicklow this morning.

Applegreen, which is part of Petrogas Global, plans to build six new service areas in a €30m investment by the end of next year.

The company will say that more than 250 construction workers will be contracted per site during the construction phase. Once opened, each filing station will employ 60 full-time staff.

The Wicklow service area is the first of the new Applegreen sites to open for business with additional sites in Birdhill, Co Tipperary, Swords, Co Dublin, and Lemybrien, Co Waterford, currently under construction. The new garages are so-called super service stations and are located on major inter-urban routes.

http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/applegreen-to-create-360-jobs-in-motorway-network-expansion-30402222.html

So that's 2 offline MSAs (Cullenmore and Birdhill) and a couple of service stations at Swords and on the N25 at Lemybrien.

Wonder where the other 2 will be and if they'll be offline MSAs or not?

ongarboy · 13-08-2014 2:46am

Driving along the M7 yesterday and saw the totem sign for the Birdhill MSS erected with signage for Applegreen, Burger King and Costa Coffee so it must be opening soon.

The station which is on the eastbound side seems to be hidden behind a hill and doesn't enjoy the same visibility from the road that the Barack Obama MSS has further on near Moneygall.

Conba · 13-08-2014 4:40pm

I worry for the Birdhill MSS. I travel from Newcastlewest and Birdhill is too soon on my journey to stop, as it would be for most traffic departing Limerick or Ennis I imagine. I guess it'll be a good stop coming from Co. Kerry though.

ongarboy · 13-08-2014 6:39pm

Conba wrote: »

I worry for the Birdhill MSS. I travel from Newcastlewest and Birdhill is too soon on my journey to stop, as it would be for most traffic departing Limerick or Ennis I imagine. I guess it'll be a good stop coming from Co. Kerry though.

Yes, a lot of tourist and regular traffic coming back from Kerry would avail of it. It's too soon for Limerick or east Clare traffic alright. I'd imagine people going west/southbound will not use it at all hardly with Moneygall not too far up the road. I'd imagine the food offerings will generate a fair bit of local custom too from Nenagh catchment area etc (particularly for Burger King).

Monegall was packed last Saturday afternoon when I used it on the way down to Tralee from Dublin (perfect half way stop). It's very well set up with hot dinner counter, pizza bar, sandwich bar, coffee shop, Supermacs and large Spar.

I notice that petrol station in Adare still has a sign saying last station for 180km (out of date now with Moneygall open!:)).

hi5 · 27-08-2014 12:05pm

Also on the M9, the proposed service station at Paulstown has been refused permission by Kilkenny CoCo amid controversy.

http://www.kilkennyjournal.ie/index....tation-refusal

Geogregor · 29-08-2014 1:06am

hi5 wrote: »

Also on the M9, the proposed service station at Paulstown has been refused permission by Kilkenny CoCo amid controversy.

http://www.kilkennyjournal.ie/index....tation-refusal

I can't see the link.

What was the controversy?

ongarboy · 30-08-2014 4:54pm

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/route-cleared-for-drivers-to-get-more-rest-areas-30548283.html

So it looks like more rest areas are on the way.

The proposals for one by the NRA near Rathcoole is just ridiculous - there are 4 westbound and one eastbound fuel and rest stops already on the Naas Road with most of them also providing hot food and seating options as well.

hi5 · 30-08-2014 8:35pm

Geogregor wrote: »

I can't see the link.

What was the controversy?

http://www.kilkennyjournal.ie/index.php/news/item/1077-council-corruption-alleged-over-paulstown-service-station-refusal

NO GO FOR PAULSTOWN SERVICE STATION.
Kilkenny County Council refuses permission for Motorway Service Station.
Plans to build a 24 hour service area on the M9 motorway between Carlow and Kilkenny have been turned down by the county council.

The proposals were to put in a petrol station, a two storey building with a shop and two food outlets including a take away and a drive through restaurant in Paulstown.

Kilkenny County Council refused permission for the project this week.

Many correspondents have in the meantime expressed extreme dissatisfaction at the action of Kilkenny County Council in rejecting this service station on several grounds, on the basis of jobs lost, on the basis of convenience and that this service station is badly needed. It was pointed out that there is no service station or rest area between Waterford and North Kildare along the M9 motorway and people feel that vested interests have prevailed on the county council to refuse this planning permission - allegations of corruption in plain words!

We have had a large correspondence on this as you will see from our Facebook page, so the Council are expected to address the issue.

linny · 05-09-2014 4:06pm

just seen that Kilkenny co co crazy decision to refuse this offline motorway service station. has been appealed to an bord pleanala, hopefully they will have better decision
http://www.pleanala.ie/casenum/243782.htm

Big Wex fan · 07-09-2014 12:35pm

A new motorway service are is being built on the M11 on the Gorey by-pass section.
I drive past it nearly everyday & go into a rant. It's a major construction, new bridge, major earth works.
Basically it's a massive white elephant government overspend. Who the hell choose that location when there are junctions and overpasses already on the motorway with plenty of land.
It's the typical the state is paying for it so we'll do it the most expensive way possible & a few cronies will get rich on the side as a result. We're all being taxed to death & watching this is frustrating.
A good example on how to do it properly is the apple green service area further up the road - built at the existing junction. So course this was a private enterprise so they used some common sense.

I sure people will find excuses for this overpriced over sized petrol station - but end of the day - we the tax payer end up paying for it.

jd · 07-09-2014 8:42pm

Here's the decision

http://planning.kilkennycoco.ie/FileRefDetails.aspx?file_number=14238&LASiteID=0

First Schedule

4 No. Reasons & Considerations for Decision to Refuse Planning Permission Ref. in Planning Register P. 14/238

1. The development is premature pending the finalisation of the NRA’s draft policy on Service Areas on the National Road Network 2014, notified to the Council on 27 May 2014, in terms of which the Paulstown vicinity has been earmarked as a type 2 online service area comprising a rest area only. It is considered that until such time as the policy is finalised, the Planning Authority will not be in a position to assess and consider the potential impact of the proposed proximate off line service station on the implementation of the finalised policy.

2. The proposed developments is premature pending a forward planning approach which provides for same as required in terms of Section 2.8 of the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines. Hence, until such time as the County Development plan provides for same with full consideration of the NRA’s finalised policy on Service Areas on the National Road Network 2014, the provision of an off line service station at this location has potential to be contrary to the proper planning and development of the area.

3. The proposed development includes a customer service block and the layout for same shows the retail element comprising a convenience shop of 90sq/m and a motor accessories shop of 257sq/m, adding up to 347sq/m. Section 12.11.16 of the County Development Plan 2014-2020 caps petrol/filling station shop floorspace at 100sq/m. Also, due to the extent of floorspace proposed, the proposal has the potential to disproportionately impact on neighbouring Paulstown and will make the filling station a destination rather than a motorway focussed stop-off facility. It is considered therefore that the proposed motor service area, on a site immediately adjacent to the village of Paulstown would due to the scale and level of services proposed on the site have a negative impact on the provision of services at a more appropriate location within the village into the future and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

4. The Planning Authority is not satisfied that all the issues relating to the impact of the development have been satisfactorily addressed, including the impact on neighbouring residential amenity in terms of noise and light, particularly from the proposed neighbouring truck/bus parking area, the positioning of a mound over a public sewer and several detailed road design matters. The development is considered premature pending the thorough investigation of same.

hi5 wrote: »

http://www.kilkennyjournal.ie/index.php/news/item/1077-council-corruption-alleged-over-paulstown-service-station-refusal

NO GO FOR PAULSTOWN SERVICE STATION.
Kilkenny County Council refuses permission for Motorway Service Station.
Plans to build a 24 hour service area on the M9 motorway between Carlow and Kilkenny have been turned down by the county council.
..
It was pointed out that there is no service station or rest area between Waterford and North Kildare along the M9 motorway and people feel that vested interests have prevailed on the county council to refuse this planning permission - allegations of corruption in plain words!

We have had a large correspondence on this as you will see from our Facebook page, so the Council are expected to address the issue.

munchkin_utd · 09-09-2014 1:02pm

jd wrote: »

Here's the decision

http://planning.kilkennycoco.ie/FileRefDetails.aspx?file_number=14238&LASiteID=0

grand, so on the face of it basically its not a case of vested interests at all and once the NRA publishes their plans for motorway rest areas, and the motor factors plan is abandoned, the developer can re-submit their application.

could actually be a positive that the application was submitted as now its public knowledge that theres a development planned for Paulstown meaning the NRA can possibly factor this in their plans which previously only included a basic rest area in the vicinity.

Chris_5339762 · 10-09-2014 6:24pm

I think this was a good decision. You can't have a motor factors at a motorway service station, thats not what its for.

radharc · 23-09-2014 11:07am

Anyone know what petrol station / fast food provider was expected to go into Paulstown? Is it another Applegreen / BK?

AugustusMinimus · 23-09-2014 2:02pm

ongarboy wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/route-cleared-for-drivers-to-get-more-rest-areas-30548283.html

So it looks like more rest areas are on the way.

The proposals for one by the NRA near Rathcoole is just ridiculous - there are 4 westbound and one eastbound fuel and rest stops already on the Naas Road with most of them also providing hot food and seating options as well.

What service station are they planning on the green dot in Cork City ? Please don't say they are thinking of plodding one beside the Dunkettle Interchange ?

I also find it curious that the map in article also seems to indicate a dual carriageway will be built to Foynes which would be complete over kill.

munchkin_utd · 23-09-2014 2:42pm

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

What service station are they planning on the green dot in Cork City ? Please don't say they are thinking of plodding one beside the Dunkettle Interchange ?

I also find it curious that the map in article also seems to indicate a dual carriageway will be built to Foynes which would be complete over kill.

they are looking to have one on the way to Ringaskiddy aparantly
http://www.nra.ie/policy-publications/service-areas/NRA-Service-Area-Policy-FinalAugust2014-(2).pdf

munchkin_utd · 16-10-2014 9:12am

ok, these 2 are unofficial privately financed, yet online stations so seeing as they are private (and over the border so not NRA stations as part of their master plan) here seems an apt place to mention them, and I haven't seen them mentioned before anywhere here.

On the M1 (NI) theres service areas in both directions being constructed between Belfast and Lisburn, so barely 10km from Belfast
http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/m1servicearea.html

On the M2 (NI) theres service areas in both directions being constructed a little north of Newtonabbey, so only 10 / 15km north of Belfast
http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/roads/m2servicearea.html

Both will be ran by Applegreen like the NRA stations in the south.
The logic of siting them on the busiest part of the roads obviously makes commercial sense, but being so close to Belfast its really a service for commuters rather than anyone on a long distance journey who needs a break for safety/ comfort reasons.

ongarboy · 16-10-2014 10:06pm

http://www.nenaghguardian.ie/news/roundup/articles/2014/10/16/4033220-burger-king-opens-at-birdhill/

The Birdhill Applegreen MSS has opened on the M7 with Tipperary's first Burger King! Costa Coffee and Subway outlets will also be on offer.

Vanquished · 16-10-2014 10:32pm

ongarboy wrote: »

http://www.nenaghguardian.ie/news/roundup/articles/2014/10/16/4033220-burger-king-opens-at-birdhill/

The Birdhill Applegreen MSS has opened on the M7 with Tipperary's first Burger King!

Wow what a red letter day for Tipperary! The locals must be so proud!

ongarboy · 17-10-2014 10:01am

Vanquished wrote: »

Wow what a red letter day for Tipperary! The locals must be so proud!

Never underestimate the significance of the Whopper!!:D

Geogregor · 19-10-2014 12:45pm

ongarboy wrote: »

http://www.nenaghguardian.ie/news/roundup/articles/2014/10/16/4033220-burger-king-opens-at-birdhill/

The Birdhill Applegreen MSS has opened on the M7 with Tipperary's first Burger King! Costa Coffee and Subway outlets will also be on offer.

Is it marked somehow on the M7 itself?
How about the one in Monasterevin, right off the junction 14 on M7?

If they fulfil all the criteria of motorway service areas they should be signed online.
If they are, could anyone post images of the signs in the mainline?

colmufc · 31-10-2014 12:32pm

The new applegreen has had its pumps closed for 3 days , what going on there I wonder

Conba · 31-10-2014 3:32pm

I asked them on Twitter this morning (and why there was no wi-fi) and the answer I got was -

"This is only a temporary thing, keep patient & it'll b business as normal soon! Happy Friday"

Pity, because I really like the look of the place.

Conba · 03-11-2014 10:05am

They responded on Twitter that the pumps are open again. Still waiting on the Wifi though

JupiterKid · 03-11-2014 4:38pm

The Birdhill offline MSA will be really handy for those travelling from Dublin to Kerry or vice versa.

Chris_5339762 · 03-11-2014 11:22pm

I was in the Barack Plaza last weekend. Useful spot, but not quite enough parking for cars and not as good as the NRA ones. Will do the job fine though.

Its an amazingly cheesy place though... but its so cheesy that its awesome. The President of the USA visited, and we remembered the visit by naming a Motorway Service Station after him.

L1011 · 03-11-2014 11:26pm

Not putting enough parking in seems to be a bit of common occurrence for non-official stations. Owners need to realise that even though it costs a bit in land and construction costs, sufficient spaces means you get more business.

Poxyshamrock · 04-11-2014 12:16am

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

I was in the Barack Plaza last weekend. Useful spot, but not quite enough parking for cars and not as good as the NRA ones. Will do the job fine though.

Its an amazingly cheesy place though... but its so cheesy that its awesome. The President of the USA visited, and we remembered the visit by naming a Motorway Service Station after him.

Much prefer Birdhill to Obama Plaza!

jd · 04-11-2014 1:01am

MYOB wrote: »

Not putting enough parking in seems to be a bit of common occurrence for non-official stations. Owners need to realise that even though it costs a bit in land and construction costs, sufficient spaces means you get more business.

How are they for HGVs?

colmufc · 04-11-2014 1:37am

jd wrote: »

How are they for HGVs?

not sure about obama as it's been awhile since I passed it but the birdhill one has tons of space out the back for hgvs but it don't take dci cards just there own fuel card which is a pain for truckers I'd imagine

Chris_5339762 · 04-11-2014 11:18pm

Obama has a ton of HGV spaces... only two were used. Meanwhile the car parking round the front was rammed while the car parking around the back was about a third empty. Noone wants to go round the back, thats the problem.

ongarboy · 06-11-2014 12:09am

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

I was in the Barack Plaza last weekend. Useful spot, but not quite enough parking for cars and not as good as the NRA ones. Will do the job fine though.

Its an amazingly cheesy place though... but its so cheesy that its awesome. The President of the USA visited, and we remembered the visit by naming a Motorway Service Station after him.

It is a bit cheesy alright. I also find the name a bit grating. I wonder if George W Bush had relatives in Birdhill, would that also be named accordingly?...somehow I think not.

L1011 · 06-11-2014 12:22am

ongarboy wrote: »

It is a bit cheesy alright. I also find the name a bit grating. I wonder if George W Bush had relatives in Birdhill, would that also be named accordingly?...somehow I think not.

Bush's closest Irish ancestry was in Rathfriland, nowhere near any major roads. Nearest bit of the A1 is obsessed with the Bronte family instead - so I think we're safe.

Clinton's ancestry seems to have been invented for political reasons, Bush Sr is the same as Bush Jr; Reagan's is pretty solid though - and Ballyporeen is dangerously close to the M8!

Conba · 07-11-2014 5:54pm

The rain was so bad last night on the trip home from Dublin that I called into Mayfield J14, Obama Plaza and Birdhill for breaks and coffees. Mayfield J14 was, as usual, jammers,... Obama Plaza was quiet-ish and, to my surprise, Birdhill was quite a bit busier (than Obama). It's interesting that they're both very different designs, with Obama Plaza being very bright and... platicky,... with Birdhill being dimly lit, almost pub-like and a lot 'warmer'. Certainly more inviting / cozy on a night like last night.

Poxyshamrock · 07-11-2014 6:17pm

Conba wrote: »

The rain was so bad last night on the trip home from Dublin that I called into Mayfield J14, Obama Plaza and Birdhill for breaks and coffees. Mayfield J14 was, as usual, jammers,... Obama Plaza was quiet-ish and, to my surprise, Birdhill was quite a bit busier (than Obama). It's interesting that they're both very different designs, with Obama Plaza being very bright and... platicky,... with Birdhill being dimly lit, almost pub-like and a lot 'warmer'. Certainly more inviting / cozy on a night like last night.

Yeah, I agree. Obama Plaza is very bright and very white. It feels like you're in an operating theatre.

SpaceTime · 08-11-2014 1:48pm

There's a trend towards that super stark LED inspired lighting in retail at the moment. I find it very annoying.

flazio · 08-11-2014 3:48pm

SpaceTime wrote: »

There's a trend towards that super stark LED inspired lighting in retail at the moment. I find it very annoying.

It helps visually impaired to navigate around obstacles.

L1011 · 08-11-2014 4:36pm

Its also very cheap to run and maintain which I imagine is pretty high on the reason list

rameire · 10-11-2014 12:07pm

Topaz to start build on two new Stations.
One at Clonshaugh Dublin M50/M1/n32 junction near Bewleys.

Other on M8 Jn 3 ( Abbeyleix )

planning is on Laois co co, ref 1497.
Location is Ballycolla at Manor Stone.

the following only works for me on int explorer ( Site Layout )

http://www.laois.ie/idocs/djvu.aspx?file=461608.djvu

veryangryman · 10-11-2014 12:32pm

Never understood Services being built on toll roads. Surely the purpose of the tolled section is to get where you want faster. If i had time to stop for a coffee, id probably drive through Enfield/Kinnegad en route M4 to Dublin. Same for Abbeyleix M8

munchkin_utd · 10-11-2014 4:01pm

rameire wrote: »

Topaz to start build on two new Stations.
One at Clonshaugh Dublin M50/M1/n32 junction near Bewleys.

Other on M8 Jn 3 ( Abbeyleix )
planning is on Laois co co, ref 1497.
Location is Ballycolla at Manor Stone.

theres an article here from a few years back on the initial announcement
http://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/local-news/jobs-promise-at-ballacolla-motorway-stop-1-2049137

And here again last year on the planning application being made for the 2 developments.
http://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/business/topaz-4m-boost-to-deliver-motorway-jobs-1-5562296

it was expected then that it would take about 6 or 7 months to complete once started.

They mention "Our site at Cashel has been extremely successful and we expect these new sites to be likewise."
Which begs the question, do they not know that the parking situation in Cashel is chronic and putting off potential customers.
I'd actually expect Ballycolla to be no better (and it'll probably still win "forcourt of the year" prize seeing as lack of parking in a car driven development seems not to be a criteria)

Geogregor · 11-11-2014 11:37am

rameire wrote: »

Topaz to start build on two new Stations.
One at Clonshaugh Dublin M50/M1/n32 junction near Bewleys.

Other on M8 Jn 3 ( Abbeyleix )

planning is on Laois co co, ref 1497.
Location is Ballycolla at Manor Stone.

the following only works for me on int explorer ( Site Layout )

http://www.laois.ie/idocs/djvu.aspx?file=461608.djvu

Are they about to physically start the construction or did they just finalized the paperwork?

I think station on the M8 is in perfect location, almost mid way between Dublin and Cork.

Geogregor · 13-11-2014 1:37am

I can actually answer myself.

http://www.topaz.ie/about-us/news-and-media/2014/Topaz-to-create-110-full-time-jobs-in-New-Year-wit.aspx

It seems that both stations are under construction and due to open in January

csd · 16-11-2014 8:19pm

Geogregor wrote: »

Is it marked somehow on the M7 itself?
How about the one in Monasterevin, right off the junction 14 on M7?

If they fulfil all the criteria of motorway service areas they should be signed online.
If they are, could anyone post images of the signs in the mainline?

Geogregor,

Here's a typical sign, taken on the N11 just before Cullenmore (offline) services at the Coyne's Cross exit. Not actually on a motorway, but the signage is the same.

Offline Services sign by csd75, on Flickr

/csd

Big Wex fan · 16-11-2014 10:44pm

I don't this is great signage by any means, most exit signs have similar markings eventhough there is no dedicated motorway stop on the exit. I think a motorway service area should have an overhead sign to have more emphasis on it.

Geogregor · 17-11-2014 1:08am

csd wrote: »

Geogregor,

Here's a typical sign, taken on the N11 just before Cullenmore (offline) services at the Coyne's Cross exit. Not actually on a motorway, but the signage is the same.

Offline Services sign by csd75, on Flickr

/csd

Thanks.
It looks actually much more prominent than I expected.
I was expecting something like in the US, a sign with small shields listening services at given exit.

It is a really grand sign

Non-Official, Offline Motorway Services in Ireland

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